[[{"@type":["BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/how-immunotherapy-works\/#BlogPosting","@context":{"@vocab":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","kg":"http:\/\/g.co\/kg"},"url":["https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/how-immunotherapy-works\/","https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/how-immunotherapy-works\/"],"publisher":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/"}],"author":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/how-immunotherapy-works\/#BlogPosting_author_Organization","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/how-immunotherapy-works\/#BlogPosting_image_ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Man-Receiving-Immunotherapy-Treatment.jpg"}],"headline":"What Is Immunotherapy \u2013 and Is It Right for You?","dateModified":"2021-11-11T13:05:10+00:00","datePublished":"2019-09-15T07:09:59+00:00","description":"Immunotherapy uses the power of your immune system to fight cancer. Contact Regional Cancer Care Associates today to learn more about immunotherapy basics and to schedule a consultation.","articleBody":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSeptember 15, 2019\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\nIf you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, doctors can choose from many treatments to provide the best care possible for each patient\u2019s unique needs. One of these treatments, immunotherapy, can be used in a variety of ways, and ongoing advancements make it an ideal choice for several types of cancer. Learn more about the basics of immunotherapy from Regional Cancer Care Associates, and schedule a consultation today to see if this treatment is appropriate for you.\nHow Immunotherapy Works\nAlso known as biologic therapy, immunotherapy refers to medications that enhance the immune system\u2019s natural response to battling cancer cells. Cancer cells disguise themselves from the immune system and prevent it from attacking them, but immunotherapy counteracts this process by helping the immune system better identify and eliminate these cells. This treatment also has been linked to success in preventing the spread of cancer to other areas of the body, as well as slowing or stopping cancer progression.\nImmunotherapy Methods\nGenerally, immunotherapy is accomplished in one of two ways. One technique stimulates the patient\u2019s immune system into more effectively targeting and attacking cancer cells. This type of immunotherapy can involve:\nImmune checkpoint inhibitors \u2013 medications that allow the immune system to operate more efficiently, which improves its ability to detect and destroy cancer cellsCancer vaccines \u2013 injections that force the immune system to initiate a response against a patient\u2019s cancer. These vaccines also protect healthy patients from developing cancer cellsNon-specific immunotherapies \u2013 help enhance the immune system\u2019s overall response to disease\nThe second method involves laboratory-produced or modified proteins that are injected into the immune system. This triggers a stronger response to cancer cells and trains the immune system to recognize and eliminate these cells. This version of immunotherapy may include:\nMonoclonal antibodies \u2013 laboratory-generated versions of proteins found in the immune system that target specific areas of cancer cellsT cell therapy \u2013 immune system cells (T cells) that are modified in a laboratory to improve their response to cancer cellsOncolytic virus therapy \u2013 an injected virus that infects cancer cells and breaks them down while leaving healthy cells alone\nThe Future of Immunotherapy\nTo date, patients with specific types of cancer \u2013 including lymphoma, leukemia and prostate, skin, lung and kidney cancers \u2013 have responded well to different immunotherapies. There is also great hope that immunotherapy will demonstrate success in ongoing clinical trials in treating even more types of cancer, and that its benefits will extend to more patients over time.\nOne of the most promising advances in immunotherapy research involves tumor-agnostic treatments, also known as tissue-agnostic therapies. This involves drugs that can treat any type of cancer in any area of the body by targeting the cancer cells and forcing genetic changes. One medication that does this has been successful in targeting metastatic tumors or cancer that surgery cannot treat, generating high hopes in the medical community.\nOur team of experts at Regional Cancer Care Associates administers immunotherapy to patients on a daily basis. Some types are effective on their own, while others are combined with additional forms of treatment for the best possible outcome. As mentioned above, some types of immunotherapy are better suited for specific forms of cancer \u2013 something your doctor will help you navigate while planning treatment. \nwe are here for you\nFor more information or to schedule an appointment, call 844-854-5342. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the RCCA location nearest you.\nRELATED ARTICLES\nRegional Cancer Care Associates is one of fewer than 200 medical practices in the country selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM); a recent Medicare initiative aimed at improving care coordination and access to and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy treatment.\n\u00a9 2022 Regional Cancer Care Associates. All rights reserved.","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/how-immunotherapy-works\/"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"LocalBusiness","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Corporate Office 25 Main Street, Suite 601","postalCode":"07601","addressRegion":"NJ","addressLocality":"Hackensack","addressCountry":"USA","name":"Postal Address","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/#PostalAddress"},"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"1024","height":"468","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/themes\/rccah\/dist\/images\/RCCA_logo.jpg","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/themes\/rccah\/dist\/images\/RCCA_logo.jpg"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/themes\/rccah\/dist\/images\/RCCA_logo.jpg"},"contactPoint":[{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactOption":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#ContactPointOption","availableLanguage":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/English_language","areaServed":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Jersey","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hackensack,_New_Jersey"],"contactType":"customer support","telephone":"+1 (844) 346-7222","email":"info@regionalcancercare.org","description":"Corporate Office Regional Cancer Care Associates 25 Main Street, Suite 601 Hackensack, NJ 07601 info@regionalcancercare.org Phone: (844) 346-7222","name":"Contact Corporate Office","image":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/RCCA_logo-300x137.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#CorporateOffice"},{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactOption":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#ContactPointOption","availableLanguage":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/English_language","areaServed":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Jersey","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hackensack,_New_Jersey"],"contactType":"customer support","telephone":"+1 (201) 510-0922","email":"msalvemini@regionalcancercare.org","description":"Media Inquiries: Mary Lou Salvemini Regional Cancer Care Associates Phone: (201) 510-0922 Email: msalvemini@regionalcancercare.org","name":"Contact Media Inquiries","image":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/RCCA_logo-300x137.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#MediaInquiries"}],"areaServed":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hackensack,_New_Jersey","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Jersey"],"additionalType":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Treatment_of_cancer","alternateName":"RCCA","description":"Leaders in Advanced Compassionate Cancer Care. Fight cancer with leading-edge treatments, experienced skill and local caring\/convenience from one of the nation's largest networks of cancer specialists.","email":"info@regionalcancercare.org","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/","sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/rgnlcancercare","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/regionalcancercareassoc","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/10059183","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCFlVzU4UvZcyXBCe9ZSvAUQ"],"telephone":"+1 (844) 346-7222","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/"}],{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What Is Immunotherapy \u2013 and Is It Right for You?","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/how-immunotherapy-works\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]