A way of reducing an individual's sensitivity to the allergen by exposing them to increasing doses over a period of time

A method of reducing the long-term immune response to allergens, in which small amounts of the allergy-causing substance is injected for a period of time.

also called allergy desensitization or allergy shots; immunotherapy is given to increase your tolerance to the substances that trigger allergy symptoms. Allergy shots can reduce your sensitivity to certain substances, but they do not cure allergies. They are usually recommended for people who suffer from allergies for a major portion of the year.

Allergy shots that desensitize sufferers against particular allergens.

See allergy shots.

A series of shots that help build up the immune system's tolerance to an allergen.

See " desensitisation".

Also called allergy desensitization or allergy shots; immunotherapy is given to increase a person's tolerance to the substances that provoke allergy symptoms (allergens). Allergy shots reduce your sensitivity to certain substances but do not cure allergies. They are usually recommended for people who suffer from allergies more than three months a year.

preventive, incrementally progressive, anti-inflammatory treatment for allergies to substances such as pollens, dust mites, fungi, and insect venom; allergy shots

a series of desensitizing injections (allergy shots) prescribed by an allergist that may be used to protect against allergy; extremely small amounts of an allergen, such as stinging insect venom, are gradually administered in increasing dosages until a tolerance develops; not available for all allergens.

A form of preventive and anti-inflammatory treatment of allergy to substances such as pollen, house dust mites, fungi and stinging insect venom. It involves administering gradually increasing doses of the substance (allergen) to which the person is allergic. The incremental increases of the allergen cause the immune system to become less sensitive to the substance, which reduces the symptoms of allergy when the substances are encountered in the future.

Immunotherapy consists of repeated injections of small doses of an allergen to which the patient is sensitized (allergic) in an attempt to create a tolerance to this allergen and therefore reduce an allergic response during later exposure.

Reducing allergic sensitivity by giving small amounts of allergens over a period of time.

A long-term program of desensitization that induces tolerance to an identified allergen. This treatment is commonly used for allergic rhinitis, asthma, allergies to stinging insects, and conjunctivitis (see Allergies).

treatment of allergy to substances such as pollens, house dust mites, fungi, and stinging insect venom involving giving gradually increasing doses of the substance, or allergen, to which the person is allergic.

A treatment for allergy to bee and wasp stings and severe hay fever. It involves having a 3-year course of injections of tiny amounts of the allergen. The treatment leads to the person becoming less sensitive to the allergen.

Also called allergy desensitization or allergy shots; immunotherapy is given to increase a person's tolerance to the substances that provoke allergy symptoms (allergens). Allergy shots reduce your sensitivity to certain substances. They are usually recommended for people who have allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, and bee sting or fire ant allergies.

See Immunosuppressive therapy.

The use of antibodies, proteins derived from antibodies, or immune cells to treat disease.

A treatment that stimulates the body's immune system to fight cancer. Alternatively, antibody or cells administered to patients that have direct or indirect anti-cancer effects.

treatments that stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to combat infection and disease

A medical treatment to stimulate a patient's immune system to attack and destroy disease-causing cells.

A therapy that stimulates the body's natural defenses to resist infection and certain other diseases (e.g., cancer).

Treatment aimed at reconstituting an impaired immune system.

Makes the immune system work better by teaching the watchmen cells to recognize and quickly neutralize an intruder (through vaccination), by recruiting more watchmen cells (using interleukins) or by sending more weapons (through antibody injections).

Using the immune system to treat disease, for example, in the development of vaccines.

See BRMs - Biological Response Modifiers.

the treatment of a disease by stimulating the body’s own defense mechanism against the disease.

an attempt to induce the immune system to mount an attack against cancer cells by administration of antibodies or nonspecific immune stimulants

means treatment to direct a normal immune system to reverse, arrest or modify the course of the Dread Disease.

means therapy intended to stimulate the normal immune system to kill Cancer cells.

Immunotherapy is treatment that stimulates the body’s own defences (immune system) to fight infections and diseases. In some cases it is used to suppress the body’s immune system to prevent rejection of a graft. In cancer treatment it is used for both these reasons. It is also used to encourage the body to repair normal cells damaged by the side-effects of some powerful cancer treatments. Immunotherapy is given by a variety of means, sometimes used in combination. They include: drugs that mimic the substances produced naturally by the body’s immune system; vaccination; bone marrow transplants; and gene and hormone therapy. It is also known as biological therapy, biotherapy, or biological response modifier (BRM) therapy.

The treatment of, or prevention against, a disease achieved through manipulation of the patient's immune system.

a treatment based on increasing the response of the body's own defences

a medical treatment for an immune system disorder that involves transfusing donor white blood cells into a woman who has had recurrent miscarriages

Treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response.

Therapies that stimulate the immune system to fight disease.

An experimental therapy that helps the body to mount its own defenses against cancer by bolstering the immune system. Immunotherapy is also known as biological therapy.

therapy designed to produce immunity to a disease or to enhance resistance by the immune system

a type of biological therapy that uses the natural substances in the fight against infections

A type of cancer therapy that uses the body's own immune system to attack cancerous cells.

treatment designed to improve or restore the immune system's ability to fight infection and disease.

Treatment of diseases such as cancer by stimulating the body's own immune system.

The use of agents similar to those produced naturally by the body’s immune system to fight disease.

the newest anticancer treatment, wehich uses biological response modifiers, the body's own immune system, to fight cancer.

A type of therapy that stimulates the immune system to help fight cancer. Immunotherapy may also be used to lessen side effects of treatment. Immunotherapy is sometimes referred to as biological therapy.

Stimulation of the immune system to treat cancer.

Drugs and techniques that alter the function of the immune system.

also known as "biological therapy," immunotherapy triggers the body's immune system to recognize and respond to cancerous cells. Some forms of immunotherapy include interferons, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies.

Treatments to help the immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells more effectively. These may include cancer vaccines and monoclonal antibody therapy.

The treatment of a disease with therapeutic agents that promote or inhibit immune response. Cancer immunotherapy, for example, involves promoting active immune responses to tumor antigens or administering anti-tumor antibodies or T cells to establish passive immunity (1).

(also called biological response modifier therapy): a variety of treatments aimed at strengthening the immune system to fight disease and to lessen the side effects of treatment

Treatment of disease by stimulating the body's own immune system. This is a type of therapy currently being researched as a treatment for cancer. See also: Biological-Therapy

A treatment that stimulates the body's own defense mechanisms to combat disease, such as cancer.

The artificial stimulation of the body's immune system to treat or fight disease.

Treatment that uses the body's natural defenses to fight cancer. Also called biological therapy.

A form of cancer treatment that encourages the body's immune system to fight cancer by administering chemicals similar to those made in the body to stimulate the immune system. Interferon and interleukin-2 therapies are two examples. A.k.a. biological therapy.

Stimulating the body’s natural defense system to attack and destroy cancers.

Treatment that stimulates the body's immune system to fight cancer. Interferon and interleukin 2 are immunotherapies.

Treatments that promote or support your immune system's response to a disease such as cancer.

Cancer treatment that produces antitumor effects primarily through the action of natural host defense mechanisms or by the administration of natural mammalian substances. Also called biotherapy and biological therapy.

A treatment that uses the body's natural defence system, the immune system, to fight disease. For example, using a vaccine is used to kill a cancer cell - see the Hub's information sheet on melanoma research.

a treatment that stimulates or modifies the body's immune response.

Genetically reengineered genes are used to boost the immune system. It is designed to act only on the cancer cells, so there is no adverse effect on normal cells, thus there are no adverse side effects.

Treatment that is directed at producing immunity or resistance to a disease or condition.

also known as biological therapy is designed to help the immune system fight off the cancer cells. Interferon and Interleuken are common forms of immunotherapy for melanoma. Vaccine therapy is also considered another form of immunotherapy though still considered experimental at this time.

a therapy that attempts to modify or enhance immune response, or reconstitute a damaged immune system. Examples of immune-based therapies for HIV disease include active immunization (vaccination), passive hyperimmune therapy, CD8 cell line expansion and cytokine therapy. See also immunomodulator.

A therapeutic approach to treat diseases by stimulating or enhancing the immune response against the disease.

therapy for disease through enhancement or stimulation of the immune system.

Cancer treatment that uses your body's immune system to fight cancer cells.

A treatment aimed at strengthening the body's immune system. Interferon, which is manufactured by cells to inhibit viruses, is a major component of this treatment.

involves injecting a medication (called interferon) to boost the body's own immune system, helping it to slow the growth of cancer.

Treatments that promote or support the body's immune system response to a disease such as cancer.

The use of medications that boost the immune response, to assist in the treatment of a disease.

(im-mew-no-ther'a pee)- A form of biological therapy. An experimental method of treating cancer, using substances which stimulate the body's immune defense system.

(IM-yoo-no-THER-a-pee) Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the person's immune system to fight infection and disease. Also used to lessen side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Also called biological therapy or biological response modifier (BRM

Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune (defense) system to fight infection and disease. Biological therapy is thus any form of treatment that uses the body's natural abilities that constitute the immune system to fight infection and disease or to protect the body from some of the side effects of treatment. See the entire definition of Immunotherapy

See biological therapy .Integrative medicine A term used to refer to the integration of complementary/alternative medicine into conventional treatment.

A cancer treatment that is still under development, immunotherapy causes a body's immune system to react against foreign, cancerous cells.

Stimulates the body's immune system to recognize, attack, and destroy cancer cells.

A form of biological therapy that stimulates the immune system to fight and kill cancer cells. Some forms include cytokine therapy, monoclonal antibodies, and tumor vaccines.

treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infections and other diseases. Also used to lessen certain side effects that may be caused by cancer treatment.

An experimental method of treating cancer that uses substances that stimulate the body's immune system.

A strategy for stimulating the immune system to attack abnormal cells; may be used in melanoma therapy.

Use of the immune system or the products of the immune system to control, damage, or destroy malignant cells. (See Biological Therapy)

A cancer treatment that tries to stimulate the body's natural defence (immune) system so that it fights the disease.

An approach to the treatment of disease that seeks to stimulate and enhance the body's natural immune system to fight the disease.

Use of the body's immune system to fight tumors.

Immunotherapy (also known as biological therapy) is a relatively new form of cancer therapy that tries to enhance the body's own defenses to fight cancer cells. Scientists try to stimulate or replace immune system cells to help destroy or prevent the growth of cancer cells. Biological agents that have shown success in triggering an immune response against some cancers include interferons, interleukins, colony-stimulating factors, T cells, tumor vaccines, tumor necrosis factors, and gene therapy.

Treatment of a disease by manipulation of the host's immune system

treatment aimed at restoring or enhancing the immune system's ability to fight diseases such as cancer or an infection. A common form of immunotherapy uses genetically engineered antibodies that can bind to diseased cells to destroy or control them.

Use of natural proteins produced in the body to fight melanoma

The use of natural or manufactured substances to help the body's immune system fight disease more effectively.Types of immunotherapy include interferons, interleukins, biochemotherapy, vaccine therapy, and antibody-based therapies.

A therapy that attempts to modify or enhance immune response, or reconstitute a damaged immune system by stimulating the body's own immune system. Research areas include finding treatments for cancer and HIV.

See biologic therapy.

Triggering body's defense mechanism in cancer treatment.

Treatment aimed at restoring an impaired immune system.

Immunotherapy stimulates or restores the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. Biological therapy is thus any form of treatment that uses the body's natural abilities that constitute the immune system to fight infection and disease or to protect the body from some of the side effects of treatment. One long-held dream is that the specificity of immune mechanisms could be harnessed against tumor cells. This might use the patient's own immune system, the transfer of antibodies or T cells from an outside source. Ideally, these agents would be targeted to molecules expressed on the cancer cells but not on healthy cells.

A form of therapy that stimulates the immune system to kill or control cancer cells. Also called biochemical therapy or biotherapy.

Techniques used to stimulate or strengthen a patient's own immune system.

Treatment that repairs, stimulates, or enhances the body's own immune responses to fight established disease. It is sometimes combined with chemotherapy.

The concept of using the immune system to treat disease, for example, developing a vaccine against cancer. Immunotherapy may also refer to the therapy of diseases caused by the immune system, allergies for example. [ Talking Glossary

The term Immunotherapy incorporates an array of strategies of treatment based upon the concept of modulating the immune system to achieve a prophylactic and/or therapeutic goal.