Immunotherapy
Our team at Florida Cancer Affiliates, along with more than 1,400 physicians in The US Oncology Network, are focused on joining together to shape the future of cancer care. We believe that we can have the greatest impact by bringing the most advanced care to patients in community-based practices, near where patients live and have support systems. This includes offering immunotherapy treatments which are receiving FDA approval and are an important focus for many of the clinical trials now opening for patients.
What is Immunotherapy
Historically, treatment options available for cancer included surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy. Immunotherapy - also referred to as I-O therapy or cancer immuno-oncology - is showing great promise in the cancer field as a way to treat certain cancers. With “Immuno” as a reference to the immune system, immunotherapy uses drugs that target a body’s own immune system to help fight cancer.
Although immunotherapies have been around for 30 years, significant advancements have occurred in the last year. The FDA has approved new I-O therapies for melanoma and lung cancer which are now being used to treat patients. There is enthusiasm in this area due to the significant number of patients that have had positive responses and long-lasting remissions that have not previously been seen within cancer care.