- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill or inhibit the growth of fast-dividing cells, including cancer cells. While effective, chemotherapy can also affect healthy cells, leading to potential side effects.
- Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy enhances the immune system’s ability to identify and destroy cancer cells. Cancer cells often evade immune responses by masking themselves. Immunotherapy reactivates the immune system to target and eliminate these cells. Types of immunotherapy include:
- Monoclonal Antibody Therapy: Targets specific cancer cell markers to block growth signals or deliver toxic substances directly to the cells.
- Dendritic Cell Therapy: Uses modified dendritic cells to stimulate a more effective immune response against cancer cells.
- T-cell Therapy (CAR-T): Genetically modifies T-cells to target and destroy cancer cells more effectively.
- Oncolytic Virus Therapy: Employs viruses that selectively infect and destroy cancer cells, also stimulating an immune response.
- Cytokine Therapy/Immune System Modulators: Utilizes cytokines like interferons and interleukins to enhance immune activity against cancer.
- Cancer Vaccines: Stimulates the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells using cancer-specific antigens.
- Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy disrupts the processes that help cancer cells grow and spread. Commonly used for cancers such as breast, colorectal, lung cancer, and leukemia, it may be combined with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy for enhanced results.
- Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy targets hormones that fuel the growth of specific cancers, like hormone receptor-positive breast and prostate cancers. It can be part of primary treatment or used post-surgery or radiation therapy.