Immunotherapy
Treatment Options
Advanced Immunotherapy treatment for Cancer
At King’s Cancer Care Centre, we provide cutting-edge immunotherapy in Dubai as part of our comprehensive approach to modern medical oncology.Â
Immunotherapy is a groundbreaking category of cancer treatment that empowers your body’s natural defences to detect and destroy cancer cells. Unlike conventional approaches that target the disease directly, this advanced therapy strengthens the body’s natural defences so they can identify and target cancer cells.
Our multidisciplinary oncology team utilises world-class protocols to design individualised plans, ensuring that every patient receives the exact standard of clinical excellence and compassionate support they require.
What is Immunotherapy for Cancer?
Immunotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that works by stimulating or restoring the body’s natural immune response to detect and destroy cancer cells. Unlike conventional treatments that attack the tumour directly, immunotherapy trains your immune system to recognise cancer as a threat and mount a targeted defence against it.
At King’s Cancer Care Centre, we offer advanced immunotherapy Dubai as part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer care programme. Our oncologists work closely with each patient to determine whether immunotherapy alone or in combination with other treatments offers the best potential outcome for their specific diagnosis.
Immunotherapy treatment may be administered intravenously, orally, or topically depending on the type prescribed. Treatment cycles vary by cancer type, stage, and individual patient factors, and our team will guide you through every step.
What are the types of Immunotherapy treatment?
When administering immunotherapy treatment, our clinical specialists utilise various classifications of biological therapies depending on the patient’s unique diagnosis:
- Checkpoint Inhibitors: Release the "brakes" on immune cells, enabling them to attack cancer.
- CAR-T Cell Therapy: Genetically modified immune cells re-engineered to target specific tumours.
- Monoclonal Antibodies: Lab-made proteins that attach to cancer cells and help the immune system find them.
- Cancer Vaccines: Stimulate the immune system to recognise tumour-specific markers.
- Cytokine Therapy: Proteins that regulate immune cell activity and tumour response.
- Immune System Modulators: Treatments that strengthen or regulate overall immune function.
Immunotherapy vs Chemotherapy: Understanding the difference
Both immunotherapy and chemotherapy are established cancer treatments, but they work in fundamentally different ways. Understanding the distinction helps patients and families make informed decisions alongside their oncology team.
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Factor | Immunotherapy | Chemotherapy |
Primary target | Highly targeted; aims to spare healthy tissue | Broad-acting; affects all rapidly dividing cells, including healthy ones |
Mechanism | Activates the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells | Uses cytotoxic drugs to directly kill rapidly dividing cells |
Duration of response | Can produce long-lasting remission in some patients | Effects typically last only during active treatment |
Impact on healthy tissue | Generally spares healthy tissue, though it can cause inflammation | Affects hair, nails, and intestinal lining cells |
Best suited for | Specific cancer types with identifiable immune markers (e.g. PD-L1 expression) | Rapidly growing tumours, haematological cancers, pre/post-surgical treatment |
Immunotherapy across Cancer types
Our oncologists have expertise in delivering immunotherapy across a wide range of cancer diagnoses. Below are some of the key areas where immunotherapy has demonstrated significant clinical benefit.
Lung cancer
Checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab have become the standard of care for non-small cell lung cancer, particularly in patients with high PD-L1 expression. Immunotherapy for lung cancer has significantly improved survival outcomes in both early-stage and advanced disease.
Breast Cancer
Immunotherapy for breast cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer, has shown meaningful results when combined with chemotherapy. Metastatic breast cancer immunotherapy using agents such as atezolizumab is offered as part of our personalised treatment protocols.
Gastric (stomach) Cancer
For patients with advanced stomach cancer, immunotherapy in gastric cancer has demonstrated improved overall survival when used alongside standard chemotherapy regimens. Nivolumab, in combination with chemotherapy, is approved as a first-line treatment in eligible patients.
Esophageal Cancer
Immunotherapy for esophageal cancer has emerged as a promising treatment avenue. Checkpoint inhibitors are now used in both resectable and metastatic settings, offering patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma new paths to improved survival.
What to expect: Immunotherapy side effects
Immunotherapy side effects are different from those commonly associated with chemotherapy.
Because immunotherapy activates the immune system, side effects can occur when the immune system affects healthy tissues.
Common, manageable side effects include:
- Skin irritation, redness, or generalised itching
- Mild to moderate fatigue or flu-like symptoms
- Mild coughing or shortness of breath
- Digestive changes, such as mild diarrhoea or abdominal discomfort
Most side effects are temporary and easily managed when detected early. Our clinical nursing teams provide proactive monitoring and supportive therapies to control inflammation effectively, ensuring your treatment path remains safe and comfortable.
Immunotherapy success rate & life expectancy
The immunotherapy for cancer success rate depends on the type of cancer, its stage, and individual patient factors.
Some cancers, such as melanoma and certain lung cancers, respond particularly well to immunotherapy, with some patients achieving long-term remission.
Immunotherapy has significantly improved life expectancy outcomes. In advanced lung cancer, five-year survival rates have increased from below 5% to over 15–20% with certain immunotherapy treatments.
In melanoma, more than 40% of patients in some clinical trials were alive five years after treatment. Immunotherapy does not work for everyone. Before treatment, we may perform specialised tests to determine whether immunotherapy is likely to be effective for your specific cancer.
The best immunotherapy for lung cancer depends on the cancer type, stage, and biomarker results. Your oncologist will recommend the most appropriate option based on your individual case.
Immunotherapy life expectancy varies by cancer type and treatment response. For some patients, immunotherapy has significantly improved long-term survival.
Yes. Several immunotherapy drugs are FDA-approved for cancers such as lung cancer, melanoma, kidney cancer, and bladder cancer.
While not a guaranteed cure, immunotherapy can help some patients with stage 4 cancer achieve long-term remission and improved survival.
Not always. The best treatment depends on the cancer type and individual patient factors. In some cases, immunotherapy and chemotherapy are used together.
Begin your Immunotherapy journey in Dubai at King’s Cancer Care Centre
At King’s Cancer Care Centre, we are committed to delivering exceptional care for patients undergoing Immunotherapy in Dubai.
From your initial consultation and comprehensive diagnostic assessment to treatment planning, administration, and ongoing monitoring, our multidisciplinary team provides personalised care tailored to your specific cancer type and treatment goals. We take the time to explain your options, answer your questions, and support you throughout every stage of your journey.
Whether you need guidance, reassurance, or expert advice, our team is always just a phone call away.
