immunotherapy

American  

[im-yuh-noh-ther-uh-pee, ih-myoo-] / ˌɪm yə noʊˈθɛr ə pi, ɪˌmyu- /

noun

plural

immunotherapies

1. treatment designed to produce immunity to a disease or enhance the resistance of the immune system to an active disease process, as cancer.

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immunotherapy British  

/ ˌɪmjʊnəʊˈθɛrəpɪ, ˌɪmjʊnəʊˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk /

noun

1. med the treatment of disease by stimulating the body's production of antibodies

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Other Word Forms

• immunotherapeutic adjective

Etymology

Origin of immunotherapy

First recorded in 1905–10; immuno- + therapy

Example Sentences

Food immunotherapy practitioners use ordinary foods such as nuts or milk in their programmes, rather than licensed pharmaceutical products.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

However, the cancer had worsened for all patients in the trial on an anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Dick Vitale has melanoma in his lung and liver cavity and will be starting immunotherapy soon, the legendary college basketball announcer said in a statement released Monday by ESPN.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

This research is part of a broader trend in cancer immunotherapy that goes beyond guiding the immune system and instead focuses on upgrading how it functions at a fundamental level.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

The selloff began after the Food and Drug Administration declined to approve Replimune’s immunotherapy candidate, RP1, in combination with Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo for the treatment of advanced melanoma.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026