VI.6.1 Immunotherapy Agents

Immunotherapy agents must be recorded in the text field.

January 1, 2005 and Forward

For cases diagnosed 1/1/2005 forward, registrars must use SEER*Rx, for coding systemic treatment (i.e. chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy). SEER*Rx is the downloadable, interactive antineoplastic drug database that replaces SEER Self-Instructional Manual Book 8, Antineoplastic Drugs. The software can be downloaded from the SEER*Rx Web Site.

Report the following as immunotherapy:

• ASILI (active specific intralymphatic immunotherapy)
• Blocking factors
• Interferon
• Monoclonal antibodies*
• Transfer factor (specific or non specific)
• Virus therapy

*Some monoclonal antibodies are used to deliver chemotherapy or radiation agents to the tumor, not to kill the tumor immunologically. Consult SEER*RX to determine how to appropriately code monoclonal antibodies. See the SEER Manual, p. 128.

January 1, 2012 and Forward

Code as immunotherapy:

• Donor lymphocyte infusion - The lymphocyte donation from the original donor creates an immune reaction to the cancer cells.  

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