Interferons

Our experts at Cancer Treatment Centers of America use a form of biotherapy known as interferons.

This natural substance is produced by your body in response to infection and disease. Manufactured forms of interferon have been shown to help the body's immune system fight diseases like cancer more effectively.

Your body recognizes foreign, diseased, or cancerous cells by special marks on their surfaces. These marks allow your body's immune system to distinguish them from healthy cells in your body. When this occurs, the immune response sends fighter cells to destroy invading cells.

Cells of the body that have been stimulated will begin to produce interferons and other natural substances. These substances not only combat foreign invaders, which may cause infection, they can also prevent the growth and spread of other diseased cells. Three types of interferons are available:

• Interferon-alpha
• Interferon-beta
• Interferon-gamma

Alpha interferons are used to treat several diseases, including some types of cancer, such as hairy cell leukemia, melanoma, follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Beta interferons are used primarily in the treatment for multiple sclerosis. Gamma interferons are used in the treatment of chronic granulomatous disease.

If you have melanoma with thick tumors or lymph node disease, your CTCA care team may determine that systemic therapy is appropriate after your tumor is surgically removed. This type of treatment is known as postsurgical adjuvant therapy, and is designed to help prevent your cancer from reappearing.