Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy arms the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Medications are used to help the immune system find and attack cancer cells. These drugs can help improve and lengthen the lives of certain cancer patients – and with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy.

Why Choose Mercy for Immunotherapy?

At Mercy, our cancer specialists work together to diagnose your condition and provide advanced care. If immunotherapy is right for you, our compassionate caregivers will make sure you’re informed and comfortable every step of the way.

How Does Immunotherapy Work?

The immune system protects the body by making antibodies that attack foreign substances. But the immune system doesn’t always see cancer cells as foreign or respond strongly enough to destroy them. And cancer cells can release substances that help them hide from the immune system. Immunotherapy works by either boosting immunity or improving the way the immune system finds and attacks cancer cells.

What Are Bispecific Antibodies?

Bispecific antibodies, or bispecifics, are a type of monoclonal (identical) antibody used in immunotherapy to kill antigens (foreign substances), such as cancer cells. These laboratory-made antibodies mimic the body’s natural defenses – but unlike regular antibodies, bispecifics can attach to two antigens at the same time.

Currently, Mercy is using them to treat lymphoma and myeloma.

How Do Bispecific Antibodies Work?

Bispecifics are made from parts of two different monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies bind to both an immune cell (T cell) and a cancer cell, bringing them close together. This triggers the T cell to attack and kill the cancer cell. 

Bispecific antibodies were developed to treat drug-resistant tumors and make antibody-based cancer treatment more effective.