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SUNDAY SCIENCE: THE FIGHT FROM WITHIN: THE SCIENCE OF IMMUNOTHERAPY
 
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Jess Steier, DrPH, Aimee Pugh Bernard, PhD, and Christy Kestner, PhD,
MS
July 17, 2025
Unbiased Science
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_ Harnessing the Body’s Defense System to Fight Cancer, Autoimmune
Diseases, and More _

cancer immunotherapy,

 

_Every day, millions of people wake up to fight battles they never
chose— against cancer cells multiplying in their bodies, immune
systems attacking their own tissues, or allergens that turn simple
meals into life-threatening encounters. What if we told you that your
body already holds the key to fighting and possibly curing disease,
waiting only for science to unlock it?_

Scientific discovery and innovation are about reimagining what’s
possible for human health. For centuries, medicine has fought illness
with external tools such as scalpels, pills, and radiation. But a new
frontier is emerging—one that doesn’t just treat disease, but
empowers the body to fight back through harnessing its own internal
defense system— the immune system. _Let’s discuss…_

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IS A MOBILE DEFENSE SYSTEM

The immune system [[link removed]] is the
body’s built-in mobile defense system— a complex network of cells,
tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from
harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, and even rogue cells like
cancer. The cells of the immune system are continually on patrol,
traveling throughout your body looking for infectious invaders and
damage. Think of the immune system as a mobile defense system
[[link removed]], like dialing 911 to
call in the first responders. When a threat is detected, immune cells
rush to the scene, assess the danger, and take action to neutralize
and eliminate it.

But just like any emergency response team, the immune system needs to
act with the right intensity at the right time. That’s why balance
is key
[[link removed]].
When it’s underactive, we’re more vulnerable to infections and
slow to heal. But when it’s overactive, it can mistakenly attack our
own tissues, leading to autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation.

IMMUNOTHERAPY: RESETTING THE THERMOSTAT OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Immunotherapy [[link removed]] is
transforming how we think about fighting disease. It is an innovative
approach in medicine that works by harnessing the body’s own immune
system to fight disease. You can think of it like a thermostat for
your immune system—it can be turned up to boost the body’s
defenses, dialed down to reduce inflammation, or redirected to focus
the immune system on specific targets or threats. In certain cancers,
for example, it can redirect immune cells to hunt down tumors. In
autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, it can suppress the
immune system’s misguided attacks on healthy tissue. And
in allergies
[[link removed]],
it can help retrain the immune system to tolerate rather than attack.
By fine-tuning the immune response, immunotherapy offers a powerful,
personalized way to treat a wide range of diseases, often with fewer
side effects than traditional therapies.

IMMUNOTHERAPY IS CHANGING THE WAY WE FIGHT DISEASE

While immunotherapy is most well-known for treating cancer, where
treatments like checkpoint inhibitors or CAR T cell therapy have given
patients with advanced or previously untreatable cancer a fighting
chance or even complete remission, its potential extends far beyond
oncology to autoimmune diseases
[[link removed]], allergies,
and infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

Historically, most of these diseases were treated with medications
that broadly suppressed the immune system or destroyed rapidly
dividing cells. For example, chemotherapy
[[link removed]] kills
not only the cancerous cells, but also the healthy ones, leading to
side effects like nausea, fatigue, or even hair loss. Steroids
[[link removed]] and
immunosuppressants, typically used to treat autoimmune disorders, can
help subdue inflammation, but this comes at the expense of making
patients more susceptible to infections and prone to other
complications.

On the other hand, immunotherapy
[[link removed]] takes a more
targeted and individualized approach. It trains and reprograms the
immune system to directly target the problem, whether it’s a cancer
cell, an autoimmune signal, or an immune trigger gone awry, while
sparing the entire system. This translates to fewer side effects, more
effective disease control, and, in some cases, long-term protection
after the treatment ends.

The clinical impact is already life-altering. Cancer patients who had
months to live are now surviving for years. Children with
life-threatening food allergies
[[link removed]] are able to
tolerate certain foods again after undergoing immunotherapy. Patients
with autoimmune disorders are now finding relief without relying on
daily high-dose medications. Immunotherapy is a game changer that
equips the immune system to do what it was always designed to do:
defend and mend.

MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES ARE A PRECISE TOOL IN THE IMMUNOTHERAPY ARSENAL

Monoclonal antibodies
[[link removed]] are
some of the most powerful weapons in immunotherapy. These are
laboratory-made antibody proteins that can mimic the immune system's
response, with the power to attack the body’s invaders, similar to
immune B cells that produce them, called plasma cells. Natural
antibodies have a broader range of activity, but monoclonal antibodies
are engineered to bind exclusively to one chosen target, giving them
exceptional specificity. Think of it as target-seeking missiles, which
guide the immune system in blowing up what needs to be destroyed. The
impact of these antibodies on modern medicine is profound and can't be
stressed enough. Trastuzumab (Herceptin
[[link removed]]) transformed breast cancer
treatment by selectively targeting HER2-positive tumors. Adalimumab
(Humira [[link removed]])
revolutionized the treatment of autoimmune diseases, like arthritis,
by neutralizing the action of TNF-alpha. Ipilimumab
[[link removed]] (Yervoy) became
one of the first successful checkpoint inhibitors in advanced melanoma
by blocking CTLA-4. This type of therapy doesn't just address the
symptoms; it navigates the immune system to a brand new roadmap of
what we can do for these chronic and deadly diseases.

TURNING THE ‘HEAT’ OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM UP – FIGHTING CANCER

IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS

Checkpoint blockade, also called immune checkpoint inhibition
[[link removed].],
is a powerful form of cancer immunotherapy that uses monoclonal
antibodies to "release the brakes" on the immune system. These
antibodies target proteins like PD-1 and CTLA-4, which act as
"checkpoints" that normally keep immune responses by T cells in check
to prevent damage to healthy tissue. Checkpoint molecules
[[link removed].] (PD-1
and CTLA-4) exist to prevent autoimmune attacks on self tissue. As an
example, when the ligand for PD-1 (PD-L1) on the surface of T cells
binds to PD-1 on a cell in the body, such as a skin cell, this
interaction prohibits the T cell from engaging in an attack against
the self cell. However, cancer cells, which are derived from self
tissue - often utilize these checkpoints to avoid being attacked.

Immunotherapeutic drugs such as nivolumab (anti-PD-1) and ipilimumab
(anti-CTLA-4) block these checkpoint proteins, allowing T cells to
stay active and attack tumors more effectively. This approach has led
to major advances in treating cancers like melanoma, lung cancer, and
kidney cancer. While checkpoint blockade can be life-saving, it can
also cause side effects when the same T cells that have been
‘released’ become overactive, sometimes attacking healthy organs.
These side effects can range from mild (like fatigue or skin rash) to
more serious issues such as inflammation of the lungs, liver, or
intestines. Still, for many patients, this therapy offers a powerful
new way to fight cancer using their own immune system.

CHIMERIC ANTIGEN RECEPTOR T CELLS (CAR T CELLS)

CAR T cells
[[link removed]] are
a cutting-edge form of immunotherapy that reprograms a patient’s own
T cells to recognize and destroy a specific target, such as a protein
on the surface of cancer cells. To create this personalized medicine,
scientists collect T cells from a patient’s blood and modify them in
the lab to produce chimeric antigen receptors—called CARs—that
recognize and latch onto specific proteins on the surface of cancer
cells. Once these engineered T cells are infused back into the
patient, they act like guided missiles, seeking out and killing cancer
cells with precision. CAR T cell therapy has shown remarkable success
in treating certain blood cancers
[[link removed]],
such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). While this therapy can be
highly effective, it is important to closely monitor patients during
and after treatment for serious side effects, including cytokine
release syndrome and neurologic symptoms.

TURNING THE ‘HEAT’ OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM DOWN – TREATING
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system, which normally
protects us from harmful invaders, mistakenly identifies the body’s
own cells as threats and launches an attack. This internal misfire can
lead to chronic inflammation and damage in tissues like joints,
nerves, or organs—hallmarks of conditions such as rheumatoid
arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes. Immunotherapy
offers a promising way to “dial down” this overreaction by
retraining or redirecting the immune response. For example, monoclonal
antibodies can block inflammatory signals that drive autoimmune
damage, helping to ease symptoms and slow disease progression. In
rheumatoid arthritis, these therapies target and neutralize
pro-inflammatory molecules like TNF-alpha, while in multiple
sclerosis, they can be used to reduce immune attack on the nervous
system.

More recently, researchers have begun exploring CAR T-cell
therapy—originally developed for cancer—for autoimmune diseases
[[link removed]] like
systemic lupus erythematosus. In this setting, CAR T-cells may help
reset the immune system by targeting the autoantibody-producing B
cells causing systemic disease. While B cells typically produce
protective antibodies that target pathogenic invaders, autoreactive B
cells, that mistakenly identify self components as foreign, fuel the
immune attack by producing autoreactive antibodies (aka
autoantibodies) that target cells within the body for destruction. In
fact, CAR T cells that target B cells, specifically a B cell surface
marker called CD19, have shown remarkable results in early trials for
diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus and even rare conditions
like Stiff Person Syndrome. The pathogenesis of these autoimmune
diseases is driven by the production of autoantibodies. These
breakthroughs are reshaping how we think about treating autoimmune
conditions—not just managing symptoms, but potentially resetting the
immune system thermostat.

IMMUNOTHERAPY IS THE FUTURE OF MEDICAL INNOVATION AND IMPACT

The future of immunotherapy is already here. What began as a cancer
therapy breakthrough is now expanding to other applications outside of
oncology. Researchers are applying immunotherapy to the treatment of
chronic infections like HIV
[[link removed]] and hepatitis,
autoimmune diseases such as lupus, type 1 diabetes, psoriasis
[[link removed]],
and inflammatory bowel diseases
[[link removed]], and even
neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and
multiple sclerosis. For the treatment of allergies, researchers are
also working on therapies that would retrain the immune system to
tolerate harmless triggers, such as food proteins or pollen, rather
than attacking them. These recent developments are a result of a
deeper understanding of how immune dysfunction is a common denominator
of numerous health issues once regarded as unrelated.

Current research could open up new possibilities in the world of
immunotherapy. Personalized cancer vaccines
[[link removed]], for example, are
already in clinical trials. They prime a person’s immune system to
make it recognize and destroy their own individual tumor
markers. Combination strategies
[[link removed]], such as pairing
immunotherapy with chemotherapy, radiation, and/or targeted therapy,
can improve efficacy and reduce resistance. Novel biomarker discovery
and single-cell immune profiling will continue to allow for
personalized treatment approaches based on one’s own unique immune
signature. The product is a safer and more accurate medication. This
is indicative of the evolving nature and progress of healthcare, from
conventional to immune-based precision medicine. So, what is the
ultimate end goal? To do more than symptom management and treat and
eventually cure diseases previously considered beyond reach.

IMMUNOTHERAPY REPRESENTS MORE THAN INNOVATION; IT REPRESENTS
POSSIBILITY

Immunotherapy is revolutionizing the way we understand and treat
disease, not by simply boosting the immune system, but by learning how
to guide it with precision. Sometimes that means turning the immune
response up to fight cancer or infections; other times, it means
dialing it down or even switching it off to calm autoimmune attacks.
From monoclonal antibodies that ease chronic inflammation to CAR
T-cell therapies that reprogram the cells of the immune system itself,
the real-world impact is profound and deeply personal.

This nuanced approach is transforming medicine, offering new hope to
patients with conditions once thought untreatable. But unlocking that
potential will rely on further scientific research and funding. Every
breakthrough we've discussed, from cancer to autoimmune disease, is
the product of decades of investment in basic science. To keep pushing
boundaries, we have to continue supporting the science that generates
tomorrow's cures.

_For patients and families facing these challenges, immunotherapy
represents more than innovation— it represents possibility. It's the
difference between managing a disease and potentially conquering it,
between borrowed time and reclaimed futures. As we continue to unlock
the language of our own immune systems, we're not just advancing
medicine; we're expanding what it means to hope. We think that’s
pretty incredible._

Stay Curious,

Unbiased Science

JESS STEIER, DRPH
[[link removed]] Public
health scientist, host of Unbiased Science, and quirky and empathetic
science communicator.

AIMEE PUGH BERNARD, PHD
[[link removed]] Immunologist
| Educator | Science Communicator | Science Advocate

CHRISTY KESTNER, PHD, MS
[[link removed]] Neuroimmunologist.
Science Writer. Science Communicator. Founder of Brain & Beyond.
Reader. Athlete. Hodophile. NOT medical advice.

Want to support our work? The best way is to subscribe to our Substack
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and share our content. While all our articles are always completely
free to read, paid subscriptions help sustain our in-depth reporting
on public health and science topics. _Thank you for considering it!_

New Clue to How Matter Outlasted Antimatter at the Big Bang Is Found
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Kenneth Chang
New York Times
Physicists working at the CERN particle physics lab said they detected
a slight but significant difference in how particles of matter and
antimatter decay.
July 16, 2025

* Science
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* immune system
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* immuotherapy
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* monoclonal antibodies
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