Cancer Immunotherapy in Israel for Turkish patients

Israel is home to specialized oncology centers and multidisciplinary cancer teams offering a range of immunotherapy approaches for eligible patients.

IL-MED helps international patients explore cancer immunotherapy options in Israel, connect with appropriate oncology specialists, and coordinate the medical and practical aspects of their treatment journey.

Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to help fight cancer. Cancer cells can sometimes avoid or suppress the immune response, and immunotherapy can help restore or strengthen the body’s ability to recognize and attack cancer cells.

Immunotherapy is not one single treatment. It includes several different approaches, and the appropriate treatment depends on the type of cancer, its stage, previous treatments, biomarkers, and the patient’s overall health.

Get to know them:

Checkpoint inhibitors are medicines that block proteins involved in controlling the immune response. By blocking certain immune checkpoints, these treatments can allow immune cells to respond more strongly against cancer.

Checkpoint inhibitors are used for several types of cancer, including certain lung, kidney, liver, skin, bladder, colorectal, and other cancers.

T-cell therapies use immune cells to help target cancer.

Some approaches involve collecting immune cells from the patient, modifying or selecting them in a laboratory, and returning them to the body.

CAR T-cell therapy is one form of cellular immunotherapy that is currently used for certain blood cancers. Its use for solid tumors remains an area of active research.

Certain cancer treatment vaccines are designed to stimulate an immune response against specific cancer cells.

Their use depends on the type of cancer and the individual patient’s circumstances.

Some treatments work by stimulating or modifying the immune system to help fight cancer. The specific treatment and its role depend on the cancer and treatment plan.

Immunotherapy is used for many different types of cancer, but it is not appropriate for every cancer or every patient.

Depending on the specific treatment, immunotherapy may be used for cancers such as:

The suitability of immunotherapy depends on factors such as cancer type, stage, previous treatment, and relevant molecular or biomarker findings.

Immunotherapy is an established treatment option for some solid tumors, but its effectiveness and eligibility vary considerably between cancer types and individual patients.

Some patients may receive checkpoint inhibitors, while other immunotherapy approaches may be available only in specific circumstances or clinical trials.

For this reason, a specialist assessment is important before deciding whether immunotherapy is an appropriate treatment option.

For some cancers, biomarker testing can help doctors determine whether a patient may benefit from a particular immunotherapy.

Depending on the cancer, doctors may evaluate biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression, mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), microsatellite instability (MSI), or other molecular characteristics.

The relevant testing depends on the type of cancer and the treatment being considered.

Some forms of immunotherapy are used to treat certain childhood cancers, while other approaches remain under investigation.

For example, CAR T-cell therapy has been approved for certain pediatric and young-adult blood cancers, including specific forms of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Pediatric cancer treatment requires specialized oncology expertise. IL-MED can help families explore pediatric cancer immunotherapy options in Israel and connect with appropriate pediatric oncology specialists based on the child’s diagnosis and medical records.

Immunotherapy may be considered at different stages of cancer treatment depending on the cancer type and the specific therapy.

It may be used:

The appropriate timing and combination of treatments should be determined by an oncology specialist.

Before recommending immunotherapy, the medical team reviews the patient’s diagnosis and overall health.

Depending on the case, evaluation may include:

This information helps the oncology team determine whether immunotherapy may be appropriate and which treatment approach may be considered.

The method of administration depends on the type of immunotherapy.

Some immunotherapies are given through an intravenous infusion, while others may be administered orally, by injection, or through other methods. Treatment schedules also vary depending on the specific therapy and cancer.

Your oncology team will explain the treatment schedule, expected monitoring, and follow-up requirements before treatment begins.

Immunotherapy can cause side effects because an activated immune system may sometimes affect healthy tissues and organs.

Possible side effects vary depending on the type of immunotherapy and the individual patient. Some immune-related side effects can involve the skin, digestive system, liver, lungs, endocrine system, or other organs.

Patients receiving immunotherapy should be monitored by their medical team and should report new or unusual symptoms promptly.