Immunonkologie

Immunonkologie, also known as immuno-oncology or cancer immunology, is a branch of medicine that harnesses the patient's own immune system to fight cancer. This approach leverages the understanding that the immune system normally detects and destroys abnormal cells, including cancerous ones, but that cancer cells often develop mechanisms to evade immune surveillance. Immunonkologie seeks to overcome these evasion strategies.

A key area within immunonkologie involves therapeutic interventions designed to boost the immune response against cancer. This includes therapies like checkpoint inhibitors, which block specific proteins that cancer cells use to "hide" from immune cells. Another important strategy is adoptive cell therapy, where a patient's immune cells, such as T cells, are extracted, genetically modified to better recognize and attack cancer cells, and then reinfused into the patient. Cancer vaccines, which aim to stimulate an immune response against tumor-specific antigens, are also part of this field.

The development of immunonkologie has revolutionized cancer treatment for certain types of malignancies. It offers a distinct mechanism of action compared to traditional therapies like chemotherapy or radiation. While promising, these treatments can also have side effects related to immune system activation and are not universally effective across all cancer types or all patients. Research continues to expand the understanding of the complex interplay between cancer and the immune system, aiming to develop more effective and personalized immunonkological treatments.