Our immune system is made up of organs and specialized cells that protect us from diseases and infections. It has evolved the incredible ability to identify and destroy foreign entities like viruses and bacteria.

WHAT ARE IMMUNE CELLS?

The immune system has a harder time targeting cancer cells. Because cancer cells are mutations of our own body’s cells, they do not have the foreign material that would usually alert our immune system to attack them. Our immune system may notice the cells mutation, but its immune response isn’t strong enough to eliminate the cancer cells.  And in some situations, cancer cells can give off substances that keep the body from being able to find and destroy them.

HOW THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS

The immune system has a harder time targeting cancer cells. Because cancer cells are mutations of our own body’s cells, they do not have the foreign material that would usually alert our immune system to attack them. Our immune system may notice the cells mutation, but its immune response isn’t strong enough to eliminate the cancer cells.  And in some situations, cancer cells can give off substances that keep the body from being able to find and destroy them.

WHAT IS IMMUNOTHERAPY AND HOW DOES IT FIGHT CANCER?

Immunotherapy works by stimulating a person’s own immune response.  Research in immunotherapy is focused on finding new ways to help the body recognize cancer cells and to boost the response of the immune system in order to kill those cells.  The treatments range from medications that help strengthen the immune system, to cancer vaccines, which start an immune response, and even man-made immune system proteins created in a lab, designed to attack a specific part of the cancer cell.

At Caris, we have cutting edge technology that enables us to analyze your tumor and match your cancer’s biomarkers to a specific treatment which will increase the probability of a positive outcome. Our testing can identify if immunotherapy drugs are a good fit for your cancer treatment.  Ask your doctor about Caris testing.