Other types of immunotherapy

While checkpoint inhibitors are the main type of immunotherapy, there are some other types that work in different ways. Several types of immunotherapy have been approved to treat particular cancers, and some are still being tested in clinical trials. Your cancer specialist can give you the latest information.

Immune stimulants

How it works

These treatments stimulate the immune system to attack cancer.

Examples

• Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) – a vaccine put directly into the bladder to prevent bladder cancer coming back or spreading
• imiquimod – a cream applied directly to some skin cancers.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy

How it works

CAR T-cell therapy boosts the ability of T-cells to fight the cancer. T-cells are removed from the blood and altered so they can better recognise cancer cells. The altered T-cells are then returned to the blood through an intravenous drip (infusion).

Examples

• used for some types of leukaemia that have come back or not responded to treatment
• clinical trials are testing whether CAR T-cell therapy works well for other types of cancer
• available only in a few public hospitals at this stage.

Monoclonal antibodies

How it works

The body’s immune system makes proteins called antibodies to help fight infections. Monoclonal antibodies are manufactured (synthetic) versions of natural antibodies. Some of these drugs are also classified as targeted therapy. 

Examples

• trastuzumab – used for some types of breast cancer and stomach and oesophageal cancers
• pertuzumab – used for some types of breast cancer
• rituximab – used for some types of leukaemia and some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Vaccines to prevent cancer

Some vaccines are not used to treat cancer but can help prevent it. They do this by training the immune system to attack viruses that have been linked to certain cancers. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer, and also offers some protection against anal and penile cancers and some head and neck cancers. Cancer Council has more information about the HPV vaccine.

Vaccines against the hepatitis B virus help prevent liver cancer. Visit Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and search for “hepatitis B vaccine” for more information.