Our team at Missouri Cancer Associates along with the thousand physicians of The US Oncology Network are focused on joining together to shape the future of cancer care. We believe that we can have the greatest impact by bringing the most advanced care to patients in community-based practices, near where patients live and have support systems. This includes offering breakthrough Immunotherapy treatments which are receiving FDA approval.
What is Immunotherapy?
Historically, treatment options available for cancer included surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy. Immunotherapy – also referred to as Immuno-Oncology, or I-O therapy – is showing great promise in the cancer field as a way to treat certain cancers. With “Immuno” as a reference to the immune system, Immunotherapy uses drugs that target a body’s own immune system to help fight cancer.
Although Immunotherapy has been around for 30 years, significant advancements have occurred in the last year. The FDA has approved new Immunotherapies for many cancers and a number of new approvals are expected in the coming year and with over 900 Immunotherapy clinical trials active today, more FDA approvals are likely in the future. There is enthusiasm in this area due to the significant number of patients that have had responses and long-lasting remissions that have not previously been seen within cancer care.
Cancers treated at MCA with Immunotherapy include …
As research develops, Immunotherapy will be used to treat other tumor sites.
How Immunotherapy Works against Cancer
One reason that cancer cells thrive is because they are able to hide from your immune system. Certain immunotherapies can mark cancer cells so it is easier for the immune system to find and destroy them. Other immunotherapies boost your immune system to work better against cancer.
Video provided by National Cancer Institute
This 1-page (front and back) fact sheet provides an overview of the different types of immunotherapy, possible side effects, terms to know, and questions to ask the health care team.