Immunotherapy Indications for Treating Cancer
Immunotherapies Used to Treat Cancer
Immunotherapies are used for treatment for many types of cancer. Some immunotherapies only work for certain tumors that have certain features. Tumor tests can help determine which patients are more likely to benefit from these therapies.
The choice of immunotherapies vary by cancer type, and situation. Visit the Cancer Treatment by Cancer Type section for more information on immunotherapies for a specific type of cancer.
The following are common immunotherapies. This is not a complete list of all immunotherapies or indications. Speak with your doctor about other treatments which may be available.
Table of immune checkpoint inhibitors
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that prevent cancer cells from switching off immune cells. This allows the immune system to find, unmask and destroy cancer cells. The table below lists some common immune checkpoint inhibitors used in cancer treatment. Clincal trials are studying new vaccines as treatment for cancer.
Drug |
Cancer Type |
Stage |
Use |
Biomarker |
Imfinzi (durvalumab) |
Endometrial cancer |
Recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer |
In combination with chemotherapy, followed by Imfinzi alone to treat primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer |
Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR or MMR-D) |
Jemperli (dostarlimab) |
Rectal cancer |
Stage 2 or 3 rectal cancer |
Before surgery (neoadjuvant) to shrink tumor. The use of this drug in early-stage colorectal cancer is not FDA approved yet. It is included in the NCCN expert guidelines as an off-label treatment option based on very promising research results |
Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR or MMR-D) |
Jemperli (dostarlimab) |
Colorectal cancer |
Metastatic or unresectable colorectal cancer |
Treatment for people who's cancer progressed after chemotherapy |
Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR or MMR-D) |
Jemperli (dostarlimab) |
Endometrial cancer |
Recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer |
In combination with chemotherapy, followed by Jemperli alone to treat primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer |
No biomarker required |
Jemperli (dostarlimab) |
Endometrial cancer |
Recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer |
For treatment of recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer that is mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) that has progressed on or following a prior platinum-containing regimen. |
Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR or MMR-D) |
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) |
Breast cancer |
Early stage TNBC at high risk for recurrence |
Before surgery Keytruda is used along with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy. Following surgery, Keytruda is continued alone |
Triple-negative (ER/PR-negative, HER2-negative) |
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) |
Breast cancer |
Metastatic or locally-recurrent unresectable tumors |
As treatment in combination with chemotherapy |
Triple-negative (ER/PR-negative and HER2-negative) and PD-L1-positive |
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) |
Colorectal cancer |
Metastatic or unresectable colorectal cancer |
For first-line treatment of metastatic or unresectable colorectal cancer |
Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR or MMR-D) |
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) |
Colorectal cancer |
Metastatic or unresectable colorectal cancer |
For cancer that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinoteca |
Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR or MMR-D) |
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) |
Endometrial cancer |
Advanced or metastatic endometrial cancer |
For advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer that came back or got worse after previous treatment and for which there are no other treatment options |
Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR or MMR-D) |
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) |
Endometrial cancer |
Advanced or metastatic endometrial cancer |
Combined with Lenvima (lenvatinib) for patients whose cancer has progressed after treatment and who are not candidates for surgery or radiation |
Tumors that are not MSI-H or dMMR (or MMR-D) - they may be referred to as MSI-Low, MSS, pMMR or MMR-P). |
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) |
Any solid tumor |
Metastatic or unresectable solid tumors |
For treatment of solid tumors that have progressed after treatment and for which there are no other treatment options |
Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR or MMR-D) |
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) |
Any solid tumor |
Metastatic or unresectable solid tumors |
For treatment of tumors that have progressed after treatment and for which there are no other treatment options |
Tumor Mutational Burden-High (TMB-H) |
Opdivo (nivolumab) |
Colorectal cancer |
Metastatic colorectal cancer |
As a single agent or in combination with Yervoy (ipilimumab) for cancer that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan |
Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR or MMR-D) |
Opdivo (nivolumab) |
Melanoma |
Metastatic or unresectable melanoma |
As a single agent or combined with ipilimumab |
No biomarker required |
Opdivo (nivolumab) |
Melanoma |
Metastatic or lymph node positive melanoma |
For the adjuvant treatment of people with following complete removal of the cancer |
No biomarker required |
Tecentriq (atezolizumab) |
Melanoma |
Metastatic or unresectable melanoma |
Combined with Cotellic and Zelboraf in people with melanoma that has the BRAF gene mutation, when the cancer can’t be removed by surgery or has spread to other parts of the body |
BRAF V600E or V600K tumor mutation |
Tecentriq (atezolizumab) |
Melanoma |
Metastatic or unresectable melanoma |
Combined with Cotellic and Zelboraf in people with melanoma that has the BRAF gene mutation, when the cancer can’t be removed by surgery or has spread to other parts of the body |
BRAF V600E or V600K tumor mutation |
Yervoy (ipilumumab) |
Colorectal cancer |
Metastatic colorectal cancer |
Combined with Opdivo (nivolumab) for cancer that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan |
Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR or MMR-D) |
Yervoy (ipilumumab) |
Melanoma |
Metastatic or unresectable melanoma |
For the treatment of people with metastatic melanoma |
No biomarker required |
Yervoy (ipilumumab) |
Melanoma |
Lymph node positive melanoma |
Adjuvant treatment of people with cutaneous melanoma with spread to regional lymph nodes of more than 1 mm who have undergone complete removal of the cancer and lymph nodes |
No biomarker required |
Table of monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates
Some immunotherapies are also targeted therapies, because they use antibodies to target abnormal proteins or receptors that are found in high quantities in cancer cells or the surrounding tissue. Monoclonal antibodies may be considered both and targeted therapies. Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) are drugs that combine two different types of molecules. A chemotherapy drug is linked to an antibody that delivers the chemotherapy directly to the cancer cells.
The table below lists some common monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates used in cancer treatment. Clincal trials are studying new agents as treatment for cancer.
Drug |
Cancer Type |
Stage |
Use |
Biomarker |
Type of Agent |
Avastin (bevacizumab) |
Colorectal cancer |
Metastatic |
Combined with intravenous 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for first- or second-line treatment |
No biomarker required |
Monoclonal antibody |
Avastin (bevacizumab) |
Colorectal cancer |
Metastatic |
In combination with chemotherapy for second-line treatment in patients who have progressed on a first-line Avastin-containing regimen |
No biomarker required |
Monoclonal antibody |
Avastin (bevacizumab) |
Ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer |
Stage 2-4 |
Combined with Lynparza (olaparib) for first-line, maintenance therapy for platinum-sensitive cancer |
Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) testing |
Monoclonal antibody |
Avastin (bevacizumab) |
Ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer |
Stage 3-4 |
Combined with chemotherapy, followed by Avastin as a single agent following initial surgical resection |
No biomarker required |
Monoclonal antibody |
Avastin (bevacizumab) |
Ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer |
Recurrent platinum-resistant disease |
Combined with chemotherapy for platinum-resistant recurrent disease who received no more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens |
No biomarker required |
Monoclonal antibody |
Avastin (bevacizumab) |
Ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer |
Recurrent platinum-sensitive disease |
Combined with chemotherapy, followed by Avastin as a single agent, for platinum-sensitive recurrent diesase |
No biomarker required |
Monoclonal antibody |
Cyramza (ramucirumab) |
Colorectal cancer |
Metastatic |
Combined with FOLFIRI chemotherapy, for treatment after disease progression on, or after prior therapy with bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, and a fluoropyrimidine |
No biomarker required |
Monoclonal antibody |
Datroway (datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk) |
Breast cancer |
Metastatic (stage 4) or unresectable |
Treatment for cancers that have progressed after hormone therapy and chemotherapy |
Hormone receptor position (HR-positive), HER2-negative |
Antibody-drug conjugate |
Elahere (mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx) |
Ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer |
Stage 3 or 4 |
As second-line or later treatment of platinum-resistant or platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer |
Positive for FRα (folate receptor alpha) |
Antibody-drug conjugate |
Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab-deruxtecan-nxki) |
Breast cancer |
Metastatic |
Treatment for people who have:
|
HER2 overexpression (HER2-positive) |
Antibody-drug conjugate |
Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab-deruxtecan-nxki) |
Breast cancer |
Metastatic |
Treatment for people with tumors that are HER2-low who:
|
HER2-low |
Antibody-drug conjugate |
Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab-deruxtecan-nxki) |
Solid tumors |
Metastatic (stage 4) or unresectable |
For adult patients with advanced solid tumors who have received prior treatment and have no alternative treatment options |
HER2 overexpression (HER2-positive) |
Antibody-drug conjugate |
Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) |
Breast cancer |
Metastatic |
For treatment in people whose cancer got worse after receiving Herceptin and chemotherapy in the following settings:
|
HER2 overexpression (HER2-positive) |
Antibody-drug conjugate |
Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) |
Breast cancer |
Early stage (stage 2-3) |
As adjuvant therapy for people who have residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant taxane and Herceptin |
HER2 overexpression (HER2-positive) |
Antibody-drug conjugate |
Perjeta (pertuzumab) |
Breast cancer |
Locally advanced, inflammatory or early stage |
Combined with Herceptin (trastuzumab) and docetaxel as treatment before surgery (neoadjuvant) |
HER2 overexpression (HER2-positive) |
Monoclonal antibody |
Phesgo (pertuzumab, trastuzumab combined injection) |
Breast cancer |
Early stage |
|
HER2 overexpression (HER2-positive) |
Monoclonal antibody |
Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) |
Breast cancer |
Metastatic |
For metastatic breast cancer that progressed, recurred or did not respond to at least two previous lines of treatment |
Triple-negative (ER/PR-negative, HER2-negative) |
Antibody-drug conjugate |
Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) |
Breast cancer |
Metastatic |
For metastatic breast cancer breast after endocrine-based therapy and at least 2 additional systemic therapies in the metastatic setting |
Hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive), HER2-negative |
Antibody-drug conjugate |
Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) |
Breast cancer |
Metastatic (stage 4) |
For metastatic breast cancer breast after endocrine-based therapy and at least 2 additional systemic therapies in the metastatic setting |
Hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive), HER2-negative |
Antibody-drug conjugate |
Vectibix (panitumumab) |
Colorectal cancer |
Metastatic |
Combined with FOLFOX for first-line treatment |
Negative for KRAS and NRAS mutations |
Monoclonal antibody |
Vectibix (panitumumab) |
Colorectal cancer |
Metastatic |
As a single therapy following disease progression after prior treatment with fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan-containing chemotherapy |
Negative for KRAS and NRAS mutations |
Monoclonal antibody |
Drug |
Cancer Type |
Stage |
Use |
Biomarker |
Proleukin® (aldesleukin) |
Melanoma |
Metastatic |
For local treatment of cutaneous, subcutaneous, and nodal lesions in patients with melanoma recurrent after initial surgery |
No biomarker required |
Intron A |
Melanoma |
Early stage |
As adjuvant therapy within 56 days after surgery in adults with melanoma who are free of disease but at high risk for recurrence |
No biomarker required |
Sylatron |
Melanoma |
Early stage |
As adjuvant treatment within 84 days after surgery for melanoma with spread to the lymph nodes |
No biomarker required |
Cancer vaccines
Cancer treatment vaccines are molecules that are introduced into the body to start an immune response against cancer cells. The table below lists some vaccines used in cancer treatment. Clincal trials are studying new vaccines as treatment for cancer.
Drug |
Cancer Type |
Stage |
Use |
Biomarker |
Type of Agent |
Imlygic (T-VEC or talimogene laherparepvec) |
Melanoma |
Unresectable recurrent melanoma |
For local treatment of cutaneous, subcutaneous, and nodal lesions in patients with melanoma recurrent after initial surgery |
No biomarker required |
Vaccine |
Provenge (sipuleucel-T) |
Prostate cancer |
Metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) |
For the treatment of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer |
No biomarker required |
Vaccine |