What are the different types of biological therapies?
There are many different types of biological therapies used in cancer treatment. Biological response modifiers (BRMs) change the way the body’s defenses interact with cancer cells. BRMs are produced in a laboratory and given to patients to: • boost the body’s ability to fight the disease. • direct the immune system’s disease fighting powers to disease cells. • strengthen a weakened immune system. BRMs include nonspecific immunomodulating agents, interferons, interleukins, colony-stimulating factors, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines: • nonspecific immunomodulating agents Nonspecific immunomodulating agents are biological therapy drugs that stimulate the immune system in a general way, causing it to produce more cytokines and antibodies to help fight cancer and infections in the body. Fighting infection is important for a person with cancer. • interferons (IFN) Interferons (IFN) are a type of biological response modifier that naturally occurs in the body. They are also produced in the
