Which type of cancer treatment focuses on boosting the immune response?

Immunotherapy specifically targets and enhances the body's immune response to fight cancer. This treatment leverages various mechanisms, such as monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, and cancer vaccines, to stimulate a more effective immune response against tumor cells. By improving the immune system's ability to detect and destroy cancer cells, immunotherapy can help patients achieve better outcomes, especially in cancers that have been resistant to other forms of treatment.

In contrast, other options like surgery involve the physical removal of tumors; radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells; and chemotherapy employs drugs to kill rapidly dividing cells, including cancerous ones. While these treatments can be effective in managing cancer, they do not primarily focus on enhancing immune system capabilities as immunotherapy does. This distinction makes immunotherapy a unique and vital component of modern cancer treatment strategies, especially in a landscape increasingly recognizing the role of the immune system in fighting cancer.