Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy, also called immuno-oncology or “IO”, is a kind of treatment that helps the body’s own immune system fight cancer.

The job of the body’s immune system is to fight off infections and other foreign invaders that can make us sick. Without help, the immune system does not fight against cancer for a few reasons:

• Cancer comes from normal cells that have changed so the immune system may not see the cancer as an invader
• The immune system may not be strong enough to fight the cancer
• Cancer cells can fool the immune system so it cannot work to fight the cancer in the right way

• Checkpoint inhibitors: A type of cancer treatment that blocks the cancer cell’s ability to hide from your immune system. This allows your immune system to better find and attack the cancer.
  • Stage 1 (I): Immunotherapy treatments approved for non-small cell lung cancer
  • Stage 2 (II): Immunotherapy treatments approved for non-small cell lung cancer
  • Stage 3 (III): Immunotherapy treatments approved for non-small cell lung cancer
  • Stage 4 (IV): Immunotherapy treatments approved for non-small cell lung cancer

• Checkpoint inhibitors: A type of cancer treatment that blocks the cancer cell’s ability to hide from your immune system. This allows your immune system to better find and attack the cancer.
• T-cell engagers: A type of cancer treatment that connects T-cells (a type of immune cells) to cancer cells. This connection helps the immune system to better respond to and attack the cancer.

• Frequently asked questions about immunotherapy and lung cancer
• Downloadable booklets about immunotherapy for small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer