biotherapy
Healing with organisms
Biotherapy is medical treatment using living organisms or substances derived from them—bacteria, viruses, antibodies, or cells engineered to fight disease.
Cancer biotherapy might deploy modified immune cells to attack tumors.
The term distinguishes these approaches from conventional drugs or radiation: The oncologist recommended biotherapy after chemotherapy failed.
Disease treatment via body's defenses
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
- T-cellsThymus-matured immune lymphocytes
- carcinomaEpithelial malignant tumor
- lymphomaCancer from immune cells
leukemia · metastasis · cytokines · interleukins · interferon
Preparations conferring immunity
- interferonImmune response protein
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
- enzymesReaction-speeding proteins
- hormonesBloodstream signaling molecules
peptides · biopharmaceuticals · biosimilars · interleukins · insulin
Measurable disease indicators
- pharmacogenomicsGene-based drug response study
- bioinformaticsComputational analysis of genetic data
- bioethicsMoral philosophy for medicine
- preclinicalBefore human trials
Gene-editing molecular machinery
- scaffoldTemporary elevated work structure
- bioprintingDepositing living cells mechanically
Live microorganisms aiding digestion
- bacteriophageVirus infecting bacterial cells
- microbiomeBody's microbial community
- lactobacillusAcid-producing beneficial bacterium
- prebioticsFood for gut flora
immunotherapy
Disease treatment via body's defenses
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
- T-cellsThymus-matured immune lymphocytes
- carcinomaEpithelial malignant tumor
lymphoma · leukemia · metastasis · cytokines · interleukins · interferon
vaccines
Preparations conferring immunity
- interferonImmune response protein
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
- enzymesReaction-speeding proteins
hormones · peptides · biopharmaceuticals · biosimilars · interleukins · insulin
biomarkers
Measurable disease indicators
- pharmacogenomicsGene-based drug response study
- bioinformaticsComputational analysis of genetic data
- bioethicsMoral philosophy for medicine
CRISPR
Gene-editing molecular machinery
- scaffoldTemporary elevated work structure
- bioprintingDepositing living cells mechanically
probiotics
Live microorganisms aiding digestion
- bacteriophageVirus infecting bacterial cells
- microbiomeBody's microbial community
- lactobacillusAcid-producing beneficial bacterium
biotherapychemotherapy
Anti-cancer drug treatment
chemical synthesis · synthetic drugs · drug therapy · pharmacotherapy
biotherapyradiation therapy
Ionizing beams treating malignancies
radiotherapy · surgery · surgical intervention · electrotherapy · ablation