A Review on Trends in Cancer Immunotherapy

Abstract

The incidence, malignancy, and mortality rates of various types of cancer differ significantly between genders, indicating a growing global burden of the disease. Understanding the impact of sex and gender on cancer management is crucial, with sex hormones, particularly estrogens, playing a significant role in driving these differences. These hormones influence gene expression, molecular changes, and the varying effectiveness and side effects of anticancer therapies. Recently, there has been a paradigm shift in cancer treatment with the introduction of immunotherapy, which aims to enhance treatment strategies by minimizing off-target effects of chemotherapy and directly targeting cancer cells. This groundbreaking approach harnesses the immune system to combat cancer and has shown immense promise, revolutionizing our perception and approach to cancer treatment. This article seeks to highlight the latest advancements in cancer immunotherapy and shed light on the role of sex and gender in this field, providing valuable insights to clinicians and researchers in adopting a gender perspective when developing new cancer treatment strategies.