Immunotherapy at Mayo Clinic

Immunotherapy is an advanced cancer treatment that helps the body's immune system recognize and fight cancer cells. Depending on the cancer, immunotherapy may be used alone or together with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, targeted therapy or other cancer treatments.

 Price 

Price on Request

Why Price on Request?

The cost of immunotherapy varies according to the type and stage of cancer, immunotherapy medication, treatment frequency, number of treatment cycles, diagnostic testing, monitoring and the patient's individual medical condition. A personalized cost estimate is therefore required.

Complete Description

Immunotherapy at Mayo Clinic

Immunotherapy at Mayo Clinic – Rochester provides specialized cancer treatment that uses the body's immune system to recognize and respond to cancer cells.

Cancer cells can sometimes avoid detection by the immune system. Immunotherapy works through different mechanisms to help the immune system identify, attack or control cancer cells.

Depending on the cancer and individual circumstances, immunotherapy may be used as a primary treatment, after another treatment, before surgery, after surgery or in combination with other cancer therapies.

What Is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer.

Unlike some treatments that directly target cancer cells, immunotherapy can work by activating, strengthening or redirecting immune responses against cancer.

Immunotherapy may be considered for selected:

• Breast cancers

• Lung cancers

• Melanoma

• Kidney cancers

• Bladder cancers

• Head and neck cancers

• Liver cancers

• Colorectal cancers

• Lymphomas

• Other cancers

Eligibility depends on the individual cancer and its biological characteristics.

How Immunotherapy Works

The immune system naturally identifies and removes abnormal cells. However, cancer cells can develop mechanisms that allow them to avoid immune detection.

Some immunotherapies work by blocking signals that prevent immune cells from attacking cancer.

Other approaches may help stimulate or redirect immune cells toward cancer cells.

The exact mechanism depends on the specific immunotherapy being used.

Types of Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy includes several different approaches.

These may include:

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors

• Cancer vaccines for selected situations

• Cell-based immunotherapies

• Monoclonal antibodies

• Other immune-based cancer treatments

The appropriate treatment depends on the patient's cancer type and treatment requirements.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are medications that block certain proteins involved in regulating immune responses.

Blocking these signals can help immune cells recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.

Checkpoint inhibitors may be used for selected cancers based on the patient's diagnosis and relevant biomarkers.

Monoclonal Antibodies

Some monoclonal antibodies are designed to recognize specific proteins or targets associated with cancer cells.

Depending on the medication, monoclonal antibodies may:

• Help the immune system identify cancer cells

• Block signals that promote cancer growth

• Deliver treatment directly toward specific cancer targets

• Support other immune-mediated effects

Their use depends on the specific cancer and treatment indication.

Cell-Based Immunotherapy

Some cancer treatments use modified or specially prepared immune cells to target cancer.

One important example is CAR-T cell therapy, which is used for selected blood cancers.

The patient's immune cells are collected and specially modified to recognize certain cancer cells before being returned to the patient.

CAR-T cell therapy is a specialized treatment and is appropriate only for selected patients.

Immunotherapy for Different Types of Cancer

Immunotherapy may be used for selected cases of:

• Melanoma

• Lung cancer

• Kidney cancer

• Bladder cancer

• Head and neck cancers

• Liver cancer

• Colorectal cancer

• Breast cancer

• Lymphoma

• Other cancers with appropriate treatment indications

The availability and suitability of immunotherapy depend on the cancer's characteristics.

Biomarker Testing Before Immunotherapy

For some cancers, biomarker testing can help determine whether immunotherapy may be appropriate.

Testing may evaluate:

• Tumor biomarkers

• Protein expression

• Genetic alterations

• Molecular characteristics

• Other biological features

The results may help specialists determine whether a patient is likely to benefit from a particular immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy Before Surgery

In selected cancers, immunotherapy may be given before surgery.

This is sometimes referred to as neoadjuvant immunotherapy.

Depending on the cancer, treatment before surgery may help stimulate an immune response against the tumor and may be combined with other treatments.

Not every patient is eligible for preoperative immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy After Surgery

Immunotherapy may also be used after surgery in selected cancers.

This may help reduce the risk of recurrence in patients for whom postoperative immunotherapy is clinically appropriate.

The decision depends on the cancer type, stage and other individual factors.

Combination Immunotherapy

Some patients may receive combinations of immune-based treatments or immunotherapy together with other cancer therapies.

Possible combinations may include:

• Immunotherapy + chemotherapy

• Immunotherapy + targeted therapy

• Immunotherapy + radiation therapy

• Other specialized treatment combinations

Combination treatment is selected according to the patient's diagnosis and treatment plan.

Immunotherapy for Advanced Cancer

Immunotherapy may be used to treat selected patients with:

• Advanced cancer

• Metastatic cancer

• Recurrent cancer

• Cancer that cannot be treated effectively with surgery alone

Treatment may aim to control cancer, slow disease progression, reduce tumor burden or improve long-term disease control when clinically appropriate.

Immunotherapy Treatment Planning

Before immunotherapy begins, specialists may review:

• Cancer diagnosis

• Cancer stage

• Pathology results

• Imaging studies

• Biomarker results

• Previous cancer treatments

• Current medications

• Overall health

• Organ function

• Previous immune-related conditions

This information helps the oncology team determine the most appropriate treatment strategy.

Immunotherapy Treatment Cycles

Immunotherapy is often administered according to a scheduled treatment cycle.

Depending on the medication, treatment may be administered:

• Every few weeks

• At other scheduled intervals

• For a specific number of cycles

• Until disease progression

• Until unacceptable side effects occur

The treatment schedule varies according to the medication and cancer type.

Administration of Immunotherapy

Many immunotherapy medications are administered through an intravenous infusion.

The treatment duration can vary depending on the medication.

Patients are monitored during treatment and may receive follow-up assessments to evaluate their response and identify possible side effects.

Monitoring During Immunotherapy

Regular monitoring is an important part of immunotherapy treatment.

Monitoring may include:

• Blood tests

• Imaging

• Physical examinations

• Organ-function testing

• Assessment of treatment response

• Monitoring for immune-related side effects

Treatment may be modified or paused when medically necessary.

Potential Side Effects

Because immunotherapy activates or modifies the immune system, it can sometimes cause the immune system to affect healthy tissues.

Possible side effects may include:

• Fatigue

• Skin rash

• Itching

• Fever

• Diarrhea

• Nausea

• Changes in thyroid function

• Liver inflammation

• Lung inflammation

• Other immune-related reactions

The type and severity of side effects vary between patients and treatments.

Managing Immune-Related Side Effects

The oncology team carefully monitors patients receiving immunotherapy.

Depending on the severity and type of reaction, management may include:

• Temporary treatment interruption

• Symptom management

• Additional laboratory testing

• Specialist evaluation

• Corticosteroid treatment when medically indicated

• Other appropriate medical interventions

Patients should promptly report new or unusual symptoms to their healthcare team.

Immunotherapy and Personalized Cancer Care

Immunotherapy is not suitable for every cancer or every patient.

Treatment decisions may consider:

• Cancer type

• Cancer stage

• Tumor biomarkers

• Previous treatment

• Overall health

• Organ function

• Potential benefits and risks

This allows specialists to develop a more individualized treatment approach.

Multidisciplinary Cancer Care

Immunotherapy may be coordinated with other cancer specialists, including:

• Medical oncologists

• Surgical oncologists

• Radiation oncologists

• Pathologists

• Radiologists

• Oncology nurses

• Pharmacists

• Genetic and molecular specialists

• Other healthcare professionals

A multidisciplinary approach helps coordinate diagnosis, treatment and monitoring.

International Patients

International patients seeking immunotherapy may be asked to provide their complete cancer records for specialist review.

Useful documents may include:

• Pathology reports

• Biopsy reports

• CT scans

• MRI scans

• PET scans

• Blood test results

• Biomarker testing

• Molecular testing

• Previous chemotherapy records

• Previous immunotherapy records

• Radiation treatment records

• Surgical reports

• Current medication list

Previous treatment information can help specialists determine appropriate next steps.

Benefits of Immunotherapy

When clinically appropriate, immunotherapy may:

• Activate the immune system against cancer

• Provide an additional treatment option for selected cancers

• Help control advanced or metastatic cancer

• Be combined with other cancer treatments

• Provide durable responses in some patients

• Support personalized cancer treatment based on biomarkers

The expected benefits vary according to the patient's cancer and treatment plan.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic for Immunotherapy?

Mayo Clinic provides multidisciplinary cancer care involving specialists in medical oncology, pathology, radiology, surgery, radiation oncology and other cancer-related fields.

Patients with complex cancers may benefit from coordinated evaluation of pathology, imaging, biomarkers and previous treatment history when considering immunotherapy.

Cost & Price on Request

Price: Price on Request

Immunotherapy does not have one fixed price because treatment requirements vary between patients.

The total cost may depend on:

• Oncology consultation

• Immunotherapy medication

• Number of treatment cycles

• Treatment duration

• Infusion services

• Biomarker testing

• Laboratory monitoring

• Imaging

• Supportive medications

• Management of treatment-related side effects

• Additional specialist services

A personalized cost estimate should therefore be requested according to the patient's diagnosis and treatment plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is immunotherapy used for?

Immunotherapy helps the immune system recognize and fight cancer and may be used for selected cancers depending on the patient's diagnosis and tumor characteristics.

2. Is immunotherapy the same as chemotherapy?

No. Chemotherapy directly uses anticancer medicines to damage or destroy cancer cells, while immunotherapy works primarily by helping the immune system recognize and respond to cancer.

3. Is immunotherapy suitable for every cancer patient?

No. The suitability of immunotherapy depends on the cancer type, stage, biomarkers, previous treatment and overall health of the patient.

4. How is immunotherapy administered?

Many immunotherapy medications are given through an intravenous infusion, although the method depends on the specific treatment.

5. How much does immunotherapy cost?

Price is available on request. The total cost depends on the immunotherapy medication, number of treatment cycles, monitoring, diagnostic testing and other required medical services.

Product Details

Product Name: Immunotherapy

Hospital: Mayo Clinic – Rochester

Brand: Mayo Clinic

Country: United States

Specialty: Oncology & Cancer Care

Service Type: Immunotherapy

Dashboard Price: 0

Customer-Facing Price: Price on Request

International Patients: Available

Location: Rochester, Minnesota, USA