| Immunotherapy is a promising field, which enhances and harnesses the powers of the host immune system
against cancer and in recent years, has become a major application of the fundamental research of cancer
immunology. Cancer immunotherapy is often more targeted than non-specific therapy approaches, including
radiotherapy or chemotherapy, as the immune system can be trained to remember cancer cells, highlighting a
durable approach that can be maintained after the treatment completion. Immunotherapy functions by directing
the immune system to attack the tumour cells via targeting tumour antigens, also enhancing the existing antitumour
immune responses. Current strategies include non-specific immunotherapy, cancer vaccines, oncolytic
virus therapy, monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoints and T cell therapy. The combination of effective
approaches can increase the immunotherapy efficacy, leading to durable anti-tumour immune responses. This
review will discuss the immunotherapy approaches, particularly immune checkpoints and T cell therapy, which
are the most common clinical applications in cancer immunotherapy. |