immunotherapy

noun im·mu·no·ther·a·py \ ˌi-myə-nō-ˈther-ə-pē , i-ˌmyü-nō- \

|Updated on: 7 Jul 2018

Definition of immunotherapy

: treatment or prevention of disease (such as an autoimmune disorder, allergy, or cancer) that involves the stimulation, enhancement, suppression, or desensitization of the immune system — see adoptive immunotherapy

—

immunotherapeutic

play \ˌi-myə-nō-ˌther-ə-ˈpyü-tik, i-ˌmyü-nō-\ adjective

Recent Examples of immunotherapy from the Web

The company has had some notable recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals, including for the cancer immunotherapy drug Kymriah.

— sy mukherjee, Fortune, "Novartis Is Spinning Off Its Alcon Eye Care Business and Launching a $5 Billion Share Buyback," 29 June 2018
Another study at the conference found that Merck’s immunotherapy drug Keytruda worked better than chemo as initial treatment for most people with the most common type of lung cancer, and with far fewer side effects.

— rick jervis, USA TODAY, "Thousands of women could forgo chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer, study says," 3 June 2018
An unusual skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma responded to immunotherapy, scientists found.

— gina kolata, New York Times, "Doctors Said Immunotherapy Would Not Cure Her Cancer. They Were Wrong.," 19 Feb. 2018
The promising news is the result of immunotherapy—a type of cancer treatment that stimulates the body’s own immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "This Woman's Terminal Breast Cancer Disappeared After Immunotherapy. Here's Why That's Such a Big Deal," 8 June 2018
In another success for immunotherapy, scientists are reporting that a novel method has eradicated advanced-stage breast cancer in a patient who had exhausted treatment options.

— todd ackerman, Houston Chronicle, "Immunotherapy defeats a breast cancer that had defied other treatments," 5 June 2018
This type of immunotherapy is still in its infancy.

— jonathan lapook, CBS News, "Groundbreaking treatment saves life of woman with late-stage breast cancer," 4 June 2018
For example, another study at the conference found that Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda worked better than chemo as initial treatment for most people with the most common type of lung cancer, and with far fewer side effects.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Five dead, nearly 200 sick in E. coli outbreak from lettuce. And investigators are stumped.," 3 June 2018
For example, another study at the conference found that Merck’s immunotherapy drug Keytruda worked better than chemo as initial treatment for most people with the most common type of lung cancer, and with far fewer side effects.

— marilynn marchione, BostonGlobe.com, "Many breast cancer patients can skip chemo, big study says," 3 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'immunotherapy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of immunotherapy

International Scientific Vocabulary

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1910

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

immunotherapy

noun im·mu·no·ther·a·py \ -ˈther-ə-pē \

medical Definition of immunotherapy

plural immunotherapies

: treatment or prevention of disease (such as a cancer, autoimmune disorder, or allergy) that involves the stimulation, enhancement, suppression, or desensitization of the immune system

Demonstrating promise is immunotherapy, in which special medications are used to beef up the body's own cancer-fighting cells.
—Harvard Health Letter, August 1997

If environmental control and pharmacotherapy fail to control symptoms, then allergen immunotherapy—also called hyposensitization or desensitization—may be considered.
—Discover, March 1998

— called also immune therapy; see adoptive immunotherapy

—

immunotherapeutic

play \-ˌther-ə-ˈpyüt-ik\ adjective

- immunotherapeutic activity
- immunotherapeutic methods

Learn More about immunotherapy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about immunotherapy

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immunotherapy

Definition of immunotherapy

immunotherapeutic

Recent Examples of immunotherapy from the Web

Origin and Etymology of immunotherapy

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immunotherapy

medical Definition of immunotherapy

immunotherapeutic

Learn More about immunotherapy

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immunotherapy

Definition of immunotherapy

immunotherapeutic

Recent Examples of immunotherapy from the Web

Origin and Etymology of immunotherapy

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immunotherapy

medical Definition of immunotherapy

immunotherapeutic

Learn More about immunotherapy

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