Chapter 8: Immunotherapy in breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer affecting women worldwide. In recent years, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment option for breast cancer. Immunotherapy refers to the use of treatments that enhance the body’s natural immune response to fight cancer. This type of therapy has shown promising results in patients with breast cancer, offering the potential for improved outcomes and quality of life. There are several types of immunotherapies used in the treatment of breast cancer, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, adoptive cellular therapy, oncolytic virus therapy, and immunomodulators. These treatments work by targeting specific components of the immune system to enhance the immune response against cancer cells. Although immunotherapy holds promise for the treatment of breast cancer, there are a number of drawbacks. Currently, only a subset of patients with breast cancer are eligible for immunotherapy, and not all patients with breast cancer will respond to these treatments. Additionally, immunotherapy can cause immune-related side effects, and can be expensive, limiting access for some patients. In spite of these limitations, the field of immunotherapy for breast cancer is rapidly evolving, with ongoing research aimed at improving the effectiveness and safety of these treatments. The future of immunotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer is promising, with a focus on personalized immunotherapy, combination therapies, biomarker discovery, immune monitoring, and the development of new immunotherapies. Overall, immunotherapy offers a promising treatment option for patients with breast cancer. Through continued research and innovation, it is hoped that immunotherapy will become a standard treatment option, offering improved outcomes and quality of life for patients with breast cancer.