Biotherapies are based on the idea that the body's own immune system is capable of killing cancer cells, a process known as cell aptosis. In fact, many have theorized that everyone has millions of cancer cells in their bodies every day, as cancer cells are normal cells that have changed or mutated. Normally, a person's immune system is able to kill these mutated cells on its own such that these cells never get a chance to replicate and grown into a tumor, or spread. However, in some people, their body's immune system is not killing the cancer cells and they do begin to form tumors, and sometimes spread.
Biotherapies work to stimulate the body's own immune system so that it can be more effective at killing cancer cells. Different biotherapy treatments approach this process in various ways. For example, some stimulate your body to produce more NK (natural killer) cells. Others, for example, stimulate your body to produce more T-cells. Both NK and T-cells are used by your body to target and kill melanoma. The following are examples of biotherapies used in fighting melanoma:
