The Role of Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment: Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Future Directions

Sekitto Namukasa Nsubuga

Faculty of Biological Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Cancer remains a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, prompting the urgent need for innovative treatment approaches. Immunotherapy has emerged as a transformative strategy in oncology, harnessing the body’s immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells. Unlike traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, immunotherapy aims to enhance or restore immune responses against tumors. This review provides a comprehensive overview of immunotherapy, focusing on its mechanisms, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, cancer vaccines, and oncolytic viruses. The efficacy of these approaches has been demonstrated across various cancers, including melanoma, lung cancer, and hematologic malignancies, showing promising results in clinical trials. Despite its successes, immunotherapy faces challenges such as resistance mechanisms, immune-related adverse events, and high treatment costs. The study methodology involved a systematic literature review using multiple databases to collect and analyze peer-reviewed articles on immunotherapy mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and emerging innovations, supplemented by expert consultation and quality assessment to ensure comprehensive and up-to-date insights. Emerging innovations, including next-generation checkpoint inhibitors, combination therapies, personalized approaches, and advancements in artificial intelligence, offer potential solutions to these challenges and are poised to further enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. This review aims to elucidate the current state of immunotherapy, its impact on cancer treatment, and future directions that hold promise for improving patient outcomes and expanding the scope of this revolutionary approach in oncology.

Keywords: Immunotherapy, Checkpoint Inhibitors, CAR-T Cell Therapy, Cancer Vaccines, Oncolytic Viruses.

CITE AS: Sekitto Namukasa Nsubuga (2024). The Role of Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment: Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Future Directions. NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND PHARMACY, 5(2):57-61. https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJPP/2024/523945761