This is a type of drug treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
Learn more about:
- When is immunotherapy used?
- Side effects of immunotherapy
- Video: What is immunotherapy?
- Podcast: Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
When is immunotherapy used?
Immunotherapy drugs, also known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, block proteins, such as PD-L1, that stop immune cells from recognising and destroying the cancer cells. Once the proteins are blocked, the immune cells can potentially recognise and attack the lung cancer.
Several checkpoint inhibitors have been approved for most types of advanced NSCLC and for SCLC when it is used together with chemotherapy. Several other checkpoint inhibitors are being tested in clinical trials for lung cancer, including using a combination of these drugs.
Checkpoint inhibitors do not work for all types of lung cancer, but some people have good results. Ask your oncologist about molecular testing and whether immunotherapy may be right for you.
Immunotherapy may be used alone, or with chemotherapy as a palliative treatment, or after chemoradiation.
Immunotherapy is now being used for some people with stage 2 NSCLC, either before or after surgery. Tell your medical team if you have an autoimmune disease as this might mean this treatment is not suitable.
Side effects of immunotherapy
Immunotherapy can cause an inflammatory response in various parts of the body, which leads to different side effects depending on which part of the body becomes inflamed.
Common side effects include:
- fatigue
- rash
- diarrhoea
- joint pain.
Most people have mild side effects that can be treated easily and usually improve.
Let your treatment team know if you have new or worsening side effects. If left untreated, some side effects can become serious and may even be life-threatening. For a detailed list of side effects, visit eviq.org.au.
Learn more about immunotherapy.
→ READ MORE: Targeted therapy for lung cancer
Video: What is immunotherapy?
Learn more about targeted therapy and immunotherapy in this short video.
Podcast: Immunotherapy & Targeted Therapy
Dr Malinda Itchins, Thoracic Medical Oncologist, Royal North Shore Hospital and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Dr Cynleen Kai, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare, VIC; Dr Naveed Alam, Thoracic Surgeon, St Vincent’s Hospital, Epworth Richmond, and Monash Medical Centre, VIC; Helen Benny, Consumer; Dr Rachael Dodd, Senior Research Fellow, The Daffodil Centre, NSW; Kim Greco, Specialist Lung Cancer Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Marco Salvador, Consumer; Janene Shelton, Lung Foundation Australia – Specialist Lung Cancer Nurse, Darling Downs Health, QLD; Prof Emily Stone, Respiratory Physician, Department of Thoracic Medicine and Lung Transplantation, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, NSW; A/Prof Marianne Weber, Stream Lead, Lung Cancer Policy and Evaluation, The Daffodil Centre, NSW.
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