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Biological therapy
Pronunciation
Definition 1
A type of treatment that uses substances made from living organisms to treat disease. These substances may occur naturally in the body or may be made in the laboratory. Some biological therapies stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection, and other diseases. Other biological therapies attack specific cancer cells, which may help keep them from growing or kill them. They may also lessen certain side effects caused by some cancer treatments. Types of biological therapy include immunotherapy (such as vaccines, cytokines, and some antibodies), gene therapy, and some targeted therapies. Also called biological response modifier therapy, biotherapy, and BRM therapy. (NCI Dictionary)
Definition 2
A form of treatment that implies the administration of substances which produce a biological reaction in the organism thus enhancing or restoring the host immune response, modifying the behavior of cancer cells, blocking the pathways of cell neoplastic transformation and tumor ability to metastasize, or facilitating the repair of cells damaged by aggressive forms of cancer treatment. It includes the use of sera, antitoxins, vaccines, genes, cells, tissues, and organs. (NCI Thesaurus)
Definition 3
Treatment to boost or restore the ability of the immune system to fight cancer, infections, and other diseases. Also used to lessen certain side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Agents used in biological therapy include monoclonal antibodies, growth factors, and vaccines. These agents may also have a direct antitumor effect. (NCI Dictionary)
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