immunotherapy

noun

im·​mu·​no·​ther·​a·​py ˌi-myə-nō-ˈther-ə-pē 

i-ˌmyü-nō-

: 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

ˌi-myə-nō-ˌther-ə-ˈpyü-tik 

i-ˌmyü-nō-

adjective

Examples of immunotherapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a study published last year in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, Sayour treated mice with a generalized vaccine, using mRNA to stimulate production of a protein called PD-L1, making their tumors more susceptible to immunotherapy. —Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026

Now, after receiving CAR-T therapy, an aggressive immunotherapy, while on a trial, the 54-year old anesthesiologist is hoping the risk of cancer is gone for good. —Angus Chen, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026

Wilson also had to take an immunotherapy maintenance drug, before being switched to a new medication that still costs her thousands of dollars a month. —Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026

The annual list price of Opdivo, Bristol Myers Squibb’s immunotherapy, rose 4% to $260,000, more than double the price in other countries, including France ($90,300) and the United Kingdom ($113,000). —Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Immunotherapie, from immuno- immuno- + Therapie therapy

Note: The German word was introduced by Paul ehrlich in the lecture "Chemotherapie von Infektionskrankheiten," published in Zeitschrift für ärtzliche Fortbildung, 6. Jahrgang, Nummer 23 (1. Dezember 1909), pp. 721-33.

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing immunotherapy

• adoptive immunotherapy

Rhymes for immunotherapy

• pharmacotherapy
• physiotherapy
• radiotherapy
• brachytherapy
• chemotherapy
• cryotherapy
• hydrotherapy
• hypnotherapy
• monotherapy
• phototherapy
• psychotherapy
• sclerotherapy

Medical Definition

immunotherapy

noun

im·​mu·​no·​ther·​a·​py -ˈther-ə-pē 

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

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

—Discover

called also immune therapy

see adoptive immunotherapy

immunotherapeutic

-ˌther-ə-ˈpyüt-ik 

adjective

immunotherapeutic activity

immunotherapeutic methods