World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

RECENT ADVANCES IN CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY: A REVIEW

Cornelius Nwozor*, Peter Ughachukwu, Kosisochukwu Ifemenam, Okechukwu Peter Nwabuokei, Henry Enwelum and Paulinus Onuorah

ABSTRACT

Immunotherapy is the treatment of disease by activating or suppressing the immune system. Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as activation immunotherapies while immunotherapies that reduce or suppress the immune system are classified as suppression immunotherapies. The objective of this review is to examine recent advances in cancer immunotherapy. Previous works and research findings on this subject were accessed through Google Search, PubMed, and Wikipedia websites. In addition, standard textbooks on Pharmacology were consulted. All these sources provided necessary information for this review on recent advances in cancer immunotherapy. Types of immunotherapy that are used in cancer treatment include the following: monoclonal antibodies, oncolytic virus therapy, non-specific immunotherapies, T cell transfer therapy, cancer vaccines, and dendritic cell-based pump-priming. There are several side effects associated with immunotherapy. These include skin changes, flu-like symptoms, palpitations, diarrhea, sinus congestion, and allergic reactions. Recent advances involve the use of checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) such as ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, avelumab, and durvalumab. Current trends in immunotherapy involve combination therapy with CPIs such as combination of CPIs and cancer chemotherapy, combination with radiotherapy, combination with immunomodulatory drugs.

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