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

Still, this initial success against such a recalcitrant tumor has broader implications for using personalized mRNA vaccines to target other common tumors that have so far been resistant to other kinds of immunotherapy, Balachandran says. —Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2025

Chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapies can shrink tumors or keep them from growing, but are not considered cures. —Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2025

Others have gone to Mexico for injections of immunotherapy drugs straight into their tumors. —John Carreyrou, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

The patients also received an immunotherapy drug (atezolizumab) and standard-of-care chemotherapy after receiving surgery. —Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2025

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