Immunotherapy
Finding ways to stimulate the body's immune system to help attack cancer cells is a growing area of research at The Institute of Cancer Research.
Clinical trials led by the ICR and our hospital partner The Royal Marsden have shown that the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab can help extend the lives of some patients with advanced head and neck cancer, and prostate cancer.
The use of 'oncolytic' viruses, which can kill cancer cells both directly and by directing the immune system against them, is also an exciting area of research being explored by ICR researchers.
This page highlights recent news stories, blog posts and videos that concern immunotherapy research at the ICR.
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Latest ICR News

Silencing gene may combat formation of radiation-induced scar tissue, a new study reveals
A new study suggests that silencing CXCL12, a gene involved in tissue scarring and repair, could help reduce the formation of scar tissue that can caused by radiotherapy. Ultimately, the researchers hope this approach could improve treatment outcomes for breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy and reconstructive surgery.
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ASCO 2025: One-time cell therapy offers long-term survival hope for patients with advanced melanoma
A one-time immunotherapy treatment using a patient’s own immune cells has shown long-lasting benefit for people with advanced melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, according to new five-year follow-up data from a pivotal clinical trial.