### Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses your body's own immune system to fight tumors. For mesothelioma, a cancer often caused by asbestos exposure, immunotherapy shows promise, especially for cases that are hard to treat. #### How Does It Work? Unlike chemotherapy, which kills both cancer and healthy cells, immunotherapy is more targeted. It helps your immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. White blood cells in your immune system can spot cells that aren't supposed to be in your body, like bacteria or viruses. Immunotherapy drugs help these white blood cells identify and destroy cancer cells by targeting specific proteins on their surface. #### Types of Immunotherapy Drugs Some immunotherapy drugs used for mesothelioma include atezolizumab, durvalumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab. These drugs are known as checkpoint inhibitors because they block proteins that prevent your immune system from attacking cancer cells. #### When Is It Used? Immunotherapy is mainly given to people with mesothelioma in clinical trials. It's often considered when other treatments have failed. Your doctor will help you decide if immunotherapy is right for you based on the type of mesothelioma you have and how far it has spread. #### How Is It Administered? These drugs are given as infusions, so you would go to a clinic to get an IV drip every 2 to 3 weeks. #### Side Effects Immunotherapy can cause side effects including diarrhea, nausea, muscle pain, joint pain, rash, and inflamed organs. #### Future Research Researchers are looking for biomarkers that could help immunotherapy drugs better target cancer cells. They are also studying combinations of immunotherapy with surgery and other cancer treatments to improve outcomes.