Context: Keytruda Immunotherapy
Keytruda is an immunotherapy drug used in cancer treatment, highlighting a shift towards immune-based cancer care.
What is immunotherapy
• Treatment that activates or strengthens the immune system to fight cancer
• Instead of killing cells directly, it helps the body identify and destroy tumour cells
How it works
• Cancer hides using immune “checkpoints”
• Immunotherapy (like Keytruda) blocks these checkpoints
• This allows T-cells to detect and attack cancer
Types of immunotherapy
- Checkpoint inhibitors
• e.g., Keytruda (PD-1 inhibitor) - CAR-T cell therapy
• Patient’s T-cells modified to kill cancer - Cancer vaccines
• Train immune system to recognise tumour proteins
Why important
• More targeted treatment than chemotherapy
• Long-lasting response in some cancers
• Represents shift from destruction → immune activation
