Final answer:
Immunotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that strengthens the body's immune response to fight cancer cells. It includes the use of cytokines, cancer vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies, either alone or in combination with traditional treatments. This method builds on the body's capability to recognize cancer cells by their abnormal proteins and can often be tailored to individual patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rationale Behind Collaborative Treatment: Immunotherapy
The rationale behind the collaborative treatment known as immunotherapy lies in its ability to harness and amplify the body's natural immune response to fight cancer. Cancer immunotherapy employs various strategies to strengthen the immune system's recognition and destruction of cancer cells. This is based on the observation that the body can sometimes identify cancerous cells by their abnormal proteins, prompting an immune response. However, this response may not be potent enough to combat rapidly multiplying cancer cells.
Therefore, immunotherapy aims to enhance this natural defense mechanism. Approaches include the use of cytokines like interferons and interleukins loaded in nanoparticles to activate immune pathways, cancer vaccines that present cancer antigens to the immune system, and monoclonal antibodies that target cancer cells. These therapies could be administered as standalone treatments or alongside other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
A historical perspective underlines that more than a century ago, the accidental discovery of 'Coley's Toxins' hinted at the possibility of stimulating the immune system to fight cancer. Modern immunotherapy builds on this foundation with a focus on specificity and reduced toxicity compared to traditional cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy. Recent advancements have seen the development of therapies that are customized to the individual, known as personalized medicine, which align closely with the cancer's specific molecular traits.