Ónæmismeðferð

Ónæmismeðferð, also known as immunotherapy, is a type of medical treatment that uses the body's own immune system to fight diseases, particularly cancer. The immune system is designed to identify and destroy abnormal cells, but in many diseases, it is either suppressed or unable to effectively recognize and attack these cells. Ónæmismeðferð aims to bolster or redirect the immune response to overcome this limitation.

There are several types of ónæmismeðferð. Some treatments involve administering substances that help the immune system recognize cancer cells more readily. Others involve using antibodies that are engineered to target specific proteins on cancer cells, effectively flagging them for destruction by immune cells. Another approach involves modifying a patient's own immune cells, such as T-cells, in a laboratory to enhance their cancer-fighting abilities, and then reinfusing them into the patient. This process is known as CAR T-cell therapy.

Ónæmismeðferð can be used as a primary treatment, in combination with other therapies like chemotherapy or radiation, or after other treatments have been completed. While it has shown significant success in treating certain types of cancer, it can also have side effects. These side effects often arise because the immune system, when activated, can sometimes attack healthy tissues as well as diseased cells. Common side effects can include fatigue, skin rashes, and flu-like symptoms, though more serious immune-related reactions can also occur. Research continues to expand the applications and improve the safety and efficacy of ónæmismeðferð for a growing range of conditions.