What is a primary mechanism by which immunotherapy works to combat cancer?

Immunotherapy primarily works by enhancing or modulating the immune system's ability to identify and combat cancer cells. One of the key mechanisms through which immunotherapy achieves this is by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. By harnessing the power of the immune system, immunotherapy can focus on preventing the proliferation of tumor cells, thereby allowing the immune system to better recognize and attack these cells.

This approach contrasts with traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, which can directly kill rapidly dividing cells, both malignant and healthy. Instead, immunotherapy seeks to empower the immune system, thereby increasing its effectiveness in managing cancer without the same level of collateral damage to healthy cells.

The other options describe mechanisms that do not align with how immunotherapy functions. Stimulating rapid cell division in cancer cells directly counters the purpose of fighting cancer. Increasing the mutation rate of cancer cells would potentially make them more aggressive or resistant, rather than improving the immune response. Lastly, directly killing healthy cells is not a goal of immunotherapy; instead, the emphasis is on protecting normal cells while enhancing the body’s ability to target cancer cells.