Understanding Immunotherapy: The Future of Cancer Treatment
- 4 minute read.
- Last Updated: 9/8/2025
Cancer treatment has evolved dramatically over the past decade, with immunotherapy emerging as one of the most promising advances in oncology care. Unlike traditional treatments that directly target cancer cells, immunotherapy works by strengthening the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer.
What is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. The immune system helps your body fight infections and other diseases. It is made up of white blood cells and organs and tissues of the lymph system.
“Immunotherapy has been a big game changer. Trying to harness the power of our own immune system to get rid of cancer has resulted in cures for cancers that were previously not curable,” says Rizwan Tariq, MD, Oncology & Hematology, Thompson Cancer Survival Center.
Immunotherapy works through several mechanisms:
- Checkpoint inhibitors: These drugs help remove the “brakes” that prevent immune cells from attacking cancer
- CAR T-cell therapy: This involves modifying a patient’s T cells in the laboratory to better recognize and attack cancer cells
- Cancer vaccines: These help the immune system recognize and target specific cancer cells
- Monoclonal antibodies: These are designed to attach to specific targets on cancer cells
Who Can Benefit from Immunotherapy?
Not every cancer patient is a candidate for immunotherapy. Response rates vary depending on cancer type, stage, and individual patient factors.
Recent clinical advances have expanded the range of cancers that may respond to immunotherapy treatments. As Dr. Tariq explains, “Malignant hematology—cancers of the blood—as well as genitourinary cancers such as bladder cancer, along with skin, lung, and kidney cancers, have all experienced significant breakthroughs in recent years, particularly with the introduction of immunotherapy.”
As a result of these advancements, a growing number of patients may now benefit from immunotherapy-based treatments. However, it is important to note that careful evaluation remains essential in order to determine which individuals are most likely to respond effectively.
Cancers that have shown significant responses to immunotherapy include:
- Melanoma
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Head and neck cancers
Side Effects and Considerations
While immunotherapy can be effective, it’s important for patients to understand potential side effects, which differ from those of traditional chemotherapy.
Side effects occur when the immune system becomes overactivated and begins attacking healthy cells. These may include:
- Skin reactions
- Flu-like symptoms
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Hormonal imbalances
- Less commonly, serious inflammation of organs
The Future of Immunotherapy
Research in immunotherapy continues to advance rapidly. Ongoing clinical trials are exploring combinations of immunotherapy with other treatments, identifying new biomarkers to predict response, and developing novel immunotherapy approaches.
“The advent of new treatments like immunotherapies now have people with even stage four melanomas getting cured with treatment and people are able to live a much longer, cancer-free life,” says Rizwan Tariq, MD, Oncology & Hematology.
Patient Resources
If you or a loved one is considering immunotherapy as a treatment option, here are some steps to take:
- Discuss with your oncology team whether you might be a candidate.
- Ask about biomarker testing to help determine if immunotherapy might be effective.
- Inquire about clinical trials that might be appropriate
- Learn about side effect management and what symptoms should prompt a call to your healthcare provider
In addition to providing advanced medical care, Thompson Cancer Survival Center also offers comprehensive support services for patients undergoing all types of cancer treatment. We have dedicated nurse navigators who are available to help guide you through every step of your treatment journey, ensuring you feel informed, supported, and empowered along the way.
To learn more about our treatment types, please visit our website HERE.
