Instead of poisoning a tumuor or destroying it with radiation, Dr. James P. Allison, chairman of the Immunology Department at the University of Texas, M.D Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston has pioneered ways to unleash the immune system to destroy a cancer
He proposed to develop drugs that unleashed the T-Cells. T-Cells of the immune system which are attack cells, latch onto the cells infected with viruses and bacteria and ultimately kill them.
The first drug developed was Yervoy against metastatic and inoperable advanced melanomas. Long term follow up of 5000 patients found that 22% survived for more than 10 years.
Not all cancers respond as well as melanoma.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/03/science/arming-the-immune-system-against-cancer.html?_r=0
Related reading :
http://www.patientsengage.com/news-and-views/how-promise-immunotherapy-transforming-oncology
