Effectiveness and Limitations of cancer immunotherapy: a narrative literature review.

Cancer immunotherapy is an important approach to cancer treatment that uses or modifies the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Different forms of immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapy, have produced meaningful clinical benefits in selected patients. However, their effectiveness varies according to cancer type, tumor characteristics, and individual patient factors. This narrative literature review examines the basic mechanisms of cancer immunotherapy, evidence of its effectiveness, and its major limitations. Published literature indicates that some patients experience substantial and lasting responses, while others do not respond or develop resistance. Treatment-related adverse effects, high costs, and unequal access also present important challenges. Overall, immunotherapy represents a valuable development in oncology, but further research is needed to improve patient selection, treatment safety, and clinical outcomes.