A Comprehensive Look at How is targeted immunotherapy given?

October 9, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Cancer Institute, immunotherapy can be administered in several ways, and the method often depends on the specific drug and cancer type. This guide will explain precisely how is targeted immunotherapy given, covering the different administration routes and what patients can expect during treatment.

Quick Summary

Targeted immunotherapy is administered through various methods, including intravenous infusions, oral pills, subcutaneous injections, topical creams, and direct injection into specific sites like a tumor or the bladder. The chosen method depends on the drug and the cancer's characteristics.

Key Points

Variety of Administration Routes: Targeted immunotherapy is given in several ways, including intravenously (IV), orally, subcutaneously, topically, and intravesically, depending on the specific drug.
Intravenous (IV) Infusion: This common method delivers medication directly into a vein, often used for monoclonal antibodies and immune checkpoint inhibitors, and is administered in a clinical setting over a period of minutes to hours.
Oral Medication: Some targeted immunotherapies are small-molecule drugs taken as pills or capsules, offering convenience and allowing for at-home administration.
Subcutaneous Injections: Administered under the skin, this method is increasingly used for some monoclonal antibodies and may be faster and more comfortable than IV infusions.
Biomarker Testing is Key: Before treatment, doctors conduct genetic or biomarker testing on cancer cells to determine if a specific targeted therapy is a viable option for the patient.
Adoptive Cell Transfer: Advanced therapies like CAR T-cell therapy involve collecting and modifying a patient's immune cells in a lab before reinfusing them via an IV.

The Personalized Approach to Targeted Immunotherapy

Targeted immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the body's own immune system to fight cancer cells. Unlike chemotherapy, which broadly attacks rapidly dividing cells, targeted immunotherapy is designed to attack specific molecules within or on the surface of cancer cells. However, the administration of these advanced therapies is not a one-size-fits-all approach. How a patient receives their targeted immunotherapy is determined by the specific type of drug being used, the cancer's characteristics, and the patient's overall health. Before treatment begins, patients often undergo biomarker testing to identify specific genetic mutations or protein expressions in their cancer, which in turn helps doctors select the right therapy.

Administration via Intravenous (IV) Infusion

Intravenous (IV) infusion is one of the most common ways to receive targeted immunotherapy, especially for larger drugs like monoclonal antibodies. The medication is delivered directly into a vein, typically in a hospital, clinic, or outpatient unit.

How it works: A healthcare professional inserts a short, thin tube called a cannula into a vein, or uses a more permanent access point like a central line or portacath for longer-term treatment. The drug is then infused over a set period, which can range from minutes to several hours.
Treatment frequency: IV infusions are often administered in cycles, with periods of treatment followed by periods of rest to allow the body to recover. This could be daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on the treatment protocol.
Common uses: Many immune checkpoint inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies are administered this way.

Oral Medication: Pills and Capsules

For some targeted immunotherapies, particularly small-molecule drugs, the treatment can be as simple as taking a pill or capsule by mouth.

How it works: These small molecules are able to pass through the cell surface to reach targets inside the cancer cells, making them suitable for oral delivery.
Treatment frequency: Patients can often take these medications at home, following a daily or cyclical schedule as prescribed by their doctor.
Benefits: Oral administration offers significant convenience, reducing the need for frequent visits to a clinical setting.

Subcutaneous and Other Local Injections

Another method involves injecting the drug just under the skin (subcutaneous), directly into a tumor, or into a specific body cavity.

Subcutaneous injections: These injections use a needle and syringe and may offer benefits such as being less time-consuming and more comfortable than IV infusions. Some monoclonal antibodies are now available in a subcutaneous form.
Oncolytic virus therapy: Certain modified viruses are injected directly into a tumor to destroy cancer cells.
Intravesical immunotherapy: For bladder cancer, drugs like BCG can be administered directly into the bladder using a catheter.

Adoptive Cell Transfer

Some advanced forms of targeted immunotherapy, such as CAR T-cell therapy, involve a more complex process of adoptive cell transfer.

How it works: This method involves collecting a patient's immune cells (T-cells), genetically engineering them in a laboratory to better recognize and attack cancer, multiplying them into large batches, and then infusing them back into the patient via an IV.
Common uses: CAR T-cell therapy is used for certain types of leukemia and lymphoma.

Comparison of Targeted Immunotherapy Administration Routes


Administration Method	Common Drug Types	Location of Treatment	Duration/Frequency	Key Features
Intravenous (IV) Infusion	Monoclonal antibodies, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy	Clinic, outpatient unit, hospital	Minutes to hours, often in cycles	Requires vein access, often monitored by healthcare professionals
Oral (Pills/Capsules)	Small-molecule drugs	At home	Daily, weekly, or in cycles	Offers convenience and flexibility for patients
Subcutaneous Injection	Some monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors	Clinic or at home (in some cases)	Weekly to monthly	Faster and potentially more comfortable than IV infusions
Topical (Creams)	Specific immunotherapies for skin cancer	At home	Variable, depending on the treatment	Used for early-stage skin cancers; involves rubbing a cream onto the skin
Intravesical	BCG for bladder cancer	Outpatient facility or hospital	Variable	Administered directly into the bladder via a catheter

The Future of Targeted Immunotherapy Delivery

The field of targeted immunotherapy is constantly evolving, with ongoing research focused on improving drug delivery methods to enhance safety, efficacy, and patient convenience. Nanoparticles, for example, are being explored as advanced drug carriers that can help deliver therapeutic agents directly to tumor sites. This targeted delivery can help increase the concentration of the drug where it's needed most while minimizing side effects elsewhere in the body. The development of new administration techniques and formulations promises to make these advanced cancer treatments even more accessible and tolerable for patients in the future.

Conclusion

In summary, there is no single way that targeted immunotherapy is given, but rather a spectrum of methods tailored to the specific treatment and cancer. From common intravenous infusions and convenient oral pills to specialized injections and adoptive cell transfer procedures, the delivery method is a crucial component of personalized cancer care. As research continues to advance, the options for effective and patient-friendly administration will only continue to expand, offering new hope for those undergoing cancer treatment. Patients should always have a detailed discussion with their oncology team to understand the administration plan for their specific targeted immunotherapy. For more detailed information on specific cancer treatments, the National Cancer Institute provides a wealth of resources that are constantly updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Targeted immunotherapy can be given as either a pill or an injection. Small-molecule drugs are often taken orally as pills or capsules, while larger drugs like monoclonal antibodies and other types of immunotherapy are commonly given as an intravenous infusion or a subcutaneous injection.

The duration of an immunotherapy session depends on the type of drug and the administration method. Intravenous infusions can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours. Oral medications are taken at home on a daily or cyclical schedule. Subcutaneous injections are much quicker.

Some forms of targeted immunotherapy, such as oral medications (pills or capsules), can be taken at home. Other methods, like intravenous infusions or adoptive cell transfer, must be administered in a doctor's office, clinic, or hospital.

No, the side effects can vary widely depending on the specific drug and its mechanism of action. Side effects from targeted therapy tend to differ from those caused by traditional chemotherapy, though they can still be substantial and require management.

Adoptive cell transfer is a type of targeted immunotherapy where a patient's T-cells are collected, genetically modified in a lab to better attack cancer cells, multiplied, and then re-infused into the patient's body.

IV administration delivers the drug directly into a vein via an infusion, while subcutaneous administration involves injecting the drug into the space just under the skin. Subcutaneous injections are often quicker and can be more comfortable for the patient.

Genetic or biomarker testing is crucial because targeted immunotherapies are designed to attack specific molecular targets on cancer cells. Testing helps doctors determine if a patient's cancer has a targetable mutation, ensuring the correct and most effective therapy is selected.