There are several types of intratumoral immunotherapy, including oncolytic viruses, cytokines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Oncolytic viruses are viruses that are modified to infect and kill cancer cells. Cytokines are proteins that help regulate the immune system, and certain cytokines can be injected directly into a tumor to help stimulate an immune response. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that block certain proteins that prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells, and these drugs can be injected directly into a tumor to help boost the immune response.
Intratumoral immunotherapy has shown promising results in treating certain types of cancer, particularly melanoma and head and neck cancers. It is also worth noting that intratumoral immunotherapy is typically used in combination with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, to help improve overall outcomes.