Our team at Maryland Oncology Hematology, along with the thousand physicians of The US Oncology Network, are focused on joining together to shape the future of cancer care. We believe that we can have the greatest impact by bringing the most advanced care to patients in community-based practices, near where patients live and have support systems. This includes offering immunotherapy treatments which are receiving FDA approval and are an important focus for many of the clinical trials now opening for patients.

What is Immunotherapy

Historically, treatment options available for cancer included surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy. Immunotherapy – also referred to as I-O therapy or cancer immuno-oncology – is showing great promise in the cancer field as a way to treat certain cancers. With “Immuno” as a reference to the immune system, immunotherapy uses drugs that target a body’s own immune system to help fight cancer.

Although immunotherapies have been around for 30 years, significant advancements have occurred in the last year. The FDA has approved new I-O therapies for melanoma and lung cancer which are now being used to treat patients. There is enthusiasm in this area due to the significant number of patients that have had positive responses and long-lasting remissions that have not previously been seen within cancer care.

How to Access Immunotherapies

Today, the best way to access these new I-O therapies is through clinical trials. Maryland Oncology Hematology is well positioned with some of the best trials in the area. Through the support of US Oncology Research, we are often able to open clinical trials at our practice before they become available in other cancer centers. Our physicians are dedicated to learning about and shaping the newest findings in cancer treatment, and as a result, are able to extend the latest in high-quality care to our patients as soon as new options become available.