What is targeted immunotherapy?
Sep 05, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. You Zhangxuan
Introduction
Targeted immunotherapy refers to a novel approach in cancer treatment. Specifically, targeted immunotherapy leverages the body's own immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Unlike traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, targeted immunotherapy does not directly kill cancer cells; instead, it activates or enhances the immune system's functions, enabling it to more effectively identify and eliminate cancer cells.
Targeted immunotherapy refers to a novel approach in cancer treatment. The detailed analysis is as follows:
Targeted immunotherapy leverages the body's own immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Unlike conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, targeted immunotherapy does not directly kill cancer cells. Instead, it activates or enhances the functions of the immune system, enabling it to more effectively identify and eliminate cancer cells. The fundamental principle of targeted immunotherapy involves using specific drugs or biological agents to intervene against particular antigens on the surface of cancer cells or immune checkpoints. These drugs can activate immune cells, enhance their ability to attack cancer cells, or block cancer cells' use of immune checkpoints to evade immune detection. A key advantage of targeted immunotherapy is its ability to precisely target cancer cells, thereby minimizing damage to healthy cells, while offering durable therapeutic effects. Currently, targeted immunotherapy has been applied in various types of cancer and has achieved significant clinical outcomes.
However, because individuals differ in their immune systems and cancer characteristics, the effectiveness of targeted immunotherapy may vary from person to person. Therefore, when applying targeted immunotherapy, individualized treatment plans should be designed based on each patient’s specific condition. For more accurate information, patients are advised to consult professional physicians.
