Chemotherapy
VS Immunotherapy
OVERVIEW
So, What Is The Difference?
For starters, chemotherapy acts directly on cancerous tumours, whereas
immunotherapy actually treats patients by acting on their immune system.
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
Unleashes the patient’s own immune system
Side Effects
Chemotherapy: Side effects result from drugs attacking both cancerous and non-cancerous cells.
Immunotherapy: Side effects result from an overstimulated or misdirected immune response.
Post Treatment Protection
Chemotherapy: Its effect lasts as long as the drugs remain in the body.
Immunotherapy: Provides long-term protection against cancer, due to the immune system’s ability to recognise and remember what cancer cells look like.
Length Of
Treatment
Chemotherapy: Typically requires multiple cycles over several months/years.
Immunotherapy: Cell-based immunotherapies (e.g. CAR T-Cell) typicallyonly require a single injection, although some immunotherapies mayrequire several injections.
Source: Cancer Research Institute | SCNOW