The immune system of an individual forms the second barrier of protection after his skin towards any infection. The immune system is made up of several types of specialized cells. These cells work towards protecting our body from any foreign invaders in the form of bacteria’s and viruses. In medical terms these foreign entities are termed as antigens. The immune system produces several protein molecules which play a vital role towards getting the body rid of these antigens. These protein molecules are referred to as antibodies. Antibodies identify probable antigen intruders which have entered the human body and attach themselves to these antigens. They are then recognized by the other cells of the immune system and are subsequently thrown out of the body. This principle discussed here can prove to be helpful in several other cases too.

Consider the case of cancer. Antibody therapy wherein these antibodies attach themselves to the cancer cells and are later on flush out or destroyed can prove to be very useful towards cancer control. The other aspect of antibodies which can make them work in antibody therapy against cancer cells is its property of being specific towards a particular kind of antigen. One antibody will attach itself only to that very antigen against which it is programmed for. This makes for a very useful tool towards antibody therapy. Since antibodies are a part of the immune system and they affect the immune system therefore this technique is also referred to as immune system therapy.  The procedure involved in this immune system therapy includes the following. The cancer cells are isolated from the patient and are injected into a mice. The immune system of the mice makes antibodies for these cancerous cells. These antibodies are then isolated and several copes of it are made. These antibodies are then injected into the patient which are  expected to scavenge off the cancer cells.

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Antibody therapy or immune therapy is a good way of getting rid of cancer cells but it is not always possible that the body of the patient will respond in the same way. It has been seen that in several cases the injected antibodies as part of the immune system therapy do not produce any response in the patient. In some cases it has also been seen that antibody therapy stops the normal response of the body.

There are several stages involved during the treatment of cancer. The initial treatment which takes the shape of being the first step towards curing or reducing the number of cancer cells is termed as induction therapy.  Induction therapy is then subsequently followed by consolidation therapy and maintenance therapy. Being the first step towards curing cancer, Induction therapy which is also known as first line therapy or primary therapy is a very important step and carries huge weight on itself.

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