Leveraging the immune system to attack cancer cells is an exciting avenue of cancer research currently being undertaken globally. Successful implementation of these treatments require a deep understanding of immunology and it’s synergistic interaction with immunotherapy.

Immunology delves into understanding how the immune system interacts with cancer cells and is a field that works synergistically with immunotherapy. Researchers aim to understand why the immune system sometimes fails to recognize and eliminate cancer cells, leading to uncontrolled tumour growth. Multiple avenues have been explored to bolster the immune response against cancer, such as developing vaccines or therapies that activate immune cells to target tumours. A primary focus of immunology is on identifying immune checkpoints, molecules that cancer cells exploit to evade immune attack, with the aim of blocking these checkpoints to trigger targeted action against cancer. Additionally, this research field examines the role of the tumour microenvironment in shaping immune response, seeking to manipulate this environment to cure patients of their disease. Collaboration between immunologists, oncologists, and other experts drives progress in uncovering novel immunotherapeutic approaches to combat cancer effectively.

Immunotherapy research aims to harness the body’s immune system to fight cancer and various approaches are explored to boost immune response against cancer cells. This includes developing drugs that activate the immune system or modify cancer cells to make them more visible to immune cells. Furthermore, personalised immunotherapy, tailoring treatments to individual patients based on their immune profiles and tumour characteristics, is on the horizon. Combination therapies, which combine immunotherapy with other treatments like chemotherapy or targeted therapy, are also being studied to enhance effectiveness. Clinical trials play a crucial role in testing new immunotherapies and understanding their long-term effects on patients. Overall, immunotherapy research holds promise for revolutionizing cancer treatment by unleashing the power of the immune system against cancer cells.