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Biotherapy

What is biotherapy?

Biological therapy for cancer is a type of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells. It is used in the treatment of many types of cancer to prevent or slow tumour growth and to prevent the spread of cancer. Biological therapy for cancer often causes fewer toxic side effects than other cancer treatments.

The goal of biological therapy for cancer is to induce your immune system to recognise and kill cancer cells. Your body’s immune system fights germs and bacteria throughout your body. Your immune system should also recognise cancer cells as abnormal, but it doesn’t always do that. Cancer cells can develop an ability to hide from immune system cells. Or cancer cells can disable or inhibit immune system cells from acting.

In general, biological therapies work by:

  • Inducing the immune system to attack cancer cells. There are several ways biological therapy treatments can achieve this goal. As an example, chemicals that stimulate your immune system cells could be injected into your body.
  • Making cancer cells easier for your immune system to recognise. Biological therapy can also target the cancer cells, turning on or off cell signals that help them elude the immune system cells. As an example, drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors can target specific chemical receptors on cancer cells, blocking the signals the cancer cells send to suppress the immune system.

We offer biotherapy treatments for patients with the following cancers:

The choice to see who you want, when you want

We believe that our patients should have the choice the see the consultant they want to, and we will make sure we fit our specialist care around you. Treatments are delivered by our experienced and dedicated multidisciplinary team in our peaceful, private and state-of-the-art facilities.

Whatever you choose, our expert team will support and guide you through your course of treatment, ensuring that you are fully informed about every aspect of your care. Find out more about the care we provide at CCL and our values here.

Book now

If you have any questions about biotherapy or would like to book an appointment with one of our biotherapy specialists, complete this form online or call 020 8247 3351.

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Cancer Centre London

Parkside Hospital