Final answer:
Immunotherapy harnesses the immune system to combat cancer by using techniques like CAR T-cell therapy and monoclonal antibodies, which specifically target cancer cells through antigens unique to these cells. Cancer vaccines further stimulate the immune response towards tumor antigens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of cancer-specific antigens to generate antibodies that target cancer cells is known as immunotherapy. This process involves either stimulating a patient's own immune system to work harder or smarter to attack cancer cells, or providing immune system components, such as man-made immune system proteins. In some cases, T-lymphocytes are isolated from the patient's blood and are genetically engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) specific for antigens on the surface of cancer cells.
These cells are then multiplied in culture and reintroduced into the patient where they can target and destroy cancer cells. This method, known as CAR T-cell therapy, is an example of adaptive immunity that has been modified to seek and destroy cancer cells.
Another approach involves monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) prepared from cloned B-lymphocytes that produce antibodies targeting specific antigens found on cancer cells. These antibodies can then induce immune responses such as blocking target molecule functions, enhancing phagocytosis, or even inducing apoptosis in targeted cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines also use tumor-specific antigens to prime the immune system to fight against cancer. These vaccines contain agents, such as surface proteins or DNA from the tumor cells, and stimulate the immune response towards these tumor antigens, enhancing the patient's natural capacity to fight cancer.