What does immunotherapy aim to do in cancer treatment?

What does immunotherapy aim to do in cancer treatment?

• A. Directly kill cancer cells
• B. Stimulate or suppress the immune system
• C. Enhance drug absorption
• D. Inhibit angiogenesis

Answer: (B)

Immunotherapy is a treatment approach that aims to utilize and enhance the body's own immune system to fight cancer. It works by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. This can involve various strategies, such as using monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, or vaccines, all of which aim to bolster the immune response against tumor cells. In contrast, directly killing cancer cells is more characteristic of traditional chemotherapy, which uses cytotoxic drugs to target and eliminate rapidly dividing cells, including cancerous ones. Enhancing drug absorption is related to pharmacology and delivery mechanisms rather than immune system engagement. Inhibiting angiogenesis, while it can be a goal of certain targeted therapies, specifically refers to blocking the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow, rather than manipulating the immune system itself. Therefore, in the context of cancer treatment, immunotherapy's primary goal is to stimulate or suppress the immune system to improve its ability to combat cancer, making this the correct answer.

Immunotherapy is a treatment approach that aims to utilize and enhance the body's own immune system to fight cancer. It works by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. This can involve various strategies, such as using monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, or vaccines, all of which aim to bolster the immune response against tumor cells.

In contrast, directly killing cancer cells is more characteristic of traditional chemotherapy, which uses cytotoxic drugs to target and eliminate rapidly dividing cells, including cancerous ones. Enhancing drug absorption is related to pharmacology and delivery mechanisms rather than immune system engagement. Inhibiting angiogenesis, while it can be a goal of certain targeted therapies, specifically refers to blocking the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow, rather than manipulating the immune system itself.

Therefore, in the context of cancer treatment, immunotherapy's primary goal is to stimulate or suppress the immune system to improve its ability to combat cancer, making this the correct answer.