Immunotherapy has gathered immense popularity as a treatment alternative for cancer. It is different from the traditional treatment methods like chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy destroys both cancerous cells and healthy cells in the body. Immunotherapy, on the other hand, enables the immune system to attack cancer cells.

Immunotherapy harnesses the power of our immune system and helps in fighting cancer. The treatment and its response for each person are considerably different. Also, its impact depends on the type of cancer and its stage.

Doctors use immunotherapy alone or in conjunction with other treatment methods. It is also effective when other treatment methods fail and the cancer is resistant to the treatment.

Let us discuss immunotherapy cancer treatment and the different types of cancers it can treat.

1. Bladder cancer

The first FDA-approved immunotherapy treatment was for bladder cancer in 1990. Now there are six FDA-approved treatment options for bladder cancer.

Cancer patients in the early stages of moderate to high-grade tumors are given a cancer vaccine with weakened bacteria called bacillus Calmette-Guerri. The vaccines stimulated the immune response to stop and kill cancer cells and reduce their chances of recurrence.

Targeted antibodies for bladder cancer alert the immune system and enable it to target and kill the cancer cells. Patients in advanced stages of bladder cancer are treated with immunomodulators called checkpoint inhibitors.

2. Breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women. The first checkpoint inhibitor for breast cancer was approved in the year 2019. The latest research has revealed that immunotherapy can be helpful for the treatment of some women who take too much of a protein receptor called HER2. Some targeted antibodies take the HER2 pathway.

3. Melanoma

The first breakthrough of checkpoint inhibitors was made in cancer called Metastatic Melanoma. Checkpoint inhibitors can increase the survival rate of patients in their advanced stages of the ailment. Doctors also use cytokines and oncolytic viruses for treating this type of cancer.

4. Lung cancer

Immunotherapy for lung cancer can be used alone or with other treatment methods like chemotherapy and surgery. It is a promising treatment alternative for people with advanced stages of the disease.

Targeted therapies and checkpoint inhibitors are sometimes used before treatment methods like chemotherapy.

5. Leukemia

Immunotherapy cancer treatment is effective in the treatment of leukemia and other ailments related to blood. There are several FDA-approved treatment options for leukemia. These include targeted antibodies, adoptive cell therapy, and cytokines.

6. Brain cancer

Cancer of the brain and nervous system are rare but can become severe. At present, the researchers have approved two types of targeted antibodies for brain and nervous system cancers.

7. Cervical cancer

At present, three preventive cancer vaccines are used for the treatment of cervical cancer. One checkpoint inhibitor and one monoclonal antibody have also received FDA approval for treatment of the ailment.

Ongoing studies are focused on finding more ways in which immunotherapy can help in treating cervical cancer.

8. Head and neck cancer

Immunotherapy cancer treatment has immense benefits for patients with cancer of the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses, nose, and salivary glands.

The treatment can help patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) related head and neck cancers. One targeted antibody and two checkpoint inhibitors have received FDA approval for the treatment of head and neck cancer.

9. Colorectal cancer

Many immunotherapy cancer treatments have received FDA approval for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Targeted therapies and checkpoint inhibitors are used to treat the ailment and can help patients with genetic traits.

10. Kidney cancer

Cytokines have been used for years to treat patients with Kidney cancer or renal cell cancer. Cytokines are immune system-stimulating proteins that are made from white blood cells.

Other treatment methods approved by FDA include monoclonal antibodies and checkpoint inhibitors.

Other types of cancers that can benefit from an immunotherapy cancer treatment are esophageal cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, sarcoma, skin cancer, and stomach cancer.