Immunotherapy for colon and rectal cancer
Stimulating the immune system to fight cancer.
Also known as biological therapy, immunotherapy helps the body's own immune system
fight colorectal cancer. With immunotherapy, the body’s own immune system
is stimulated to help it do its job better.
Types of Immunotherapy.
Still a relatively new way to treat colon and rectal cancer.
- Biological response modifiers: Substances that do not directly
destroy the cancer but trigger the immune system to attack tumors. These include
cytokines such as interferons and interleukins.
- Colony-stimulating factors: Substances that stimulate the production
of
bone marrow cells, which include both red and white blood cells and platelets.
Often, other cancer treatments cause decreases in these cells. Colony-stimulating
factors do not directly affect tumors but they help support the immune system during
cancer treatment.
- Monoclonal antibodies: Substances produced in the lab that can
locate and bind to the colon or rectal cancer cells in the body. The antibodies
can be used to see where the tumor is in the body, or as therapy to deliver drugs,
toxins, or radioactive material directly to a colon or rectal tumor.
Get suggestions for managing the side effects of colorectal cancer treatment