Last Updated on November 27, 2025 by Bilal Hasdemir
Our body’s immune system is always ready to defend us, even against cancer. But, tumors have found ways to sneak past these defenses. Learning how the immune response works is vital for finding new treatments and better care for patients.
At Liv Hospital, recent studies have shown how cancer cells and the immune system interact. They’ve looked into biomarkers and RNA methylation in tumors. It’s important to understand how the immune system fights cancer cells. This sets the stage for a deeper look at the immune response in the next sections.
Key Takeaways
- The immune system’s interaction with cancer cells is a complex process.
- Multiple components of the immune system contribute to identifying and destroying cancer cells.
- Understanding the immune response to cancer is key for new treatments.
- Recent studies have explored biomarkers and RNA methylation in tumors.
- Liv Hospital is dedicated to top-notch care and medical excellence in cancer treatment.
The Complex Relationship Between Cancer and the Immune System
The immune system fights cancer in a complex way. It can kill cancer cells but also let them hide. We’ll look at how cancer cells outsmart the immune system and the idea of immunosurveillance.
Cancer as an Immune Challenge
Cancer cells are a big challenge for the immune system. They find ways to avoid being found and killed. Recent research shows they can change immune pathways to spread. This battle between cancer and the immune system is key to the disease’s growth.
The immune system tries to spot and attack cancer cells. But cancer cells find ways to hide, like masking or losing antigens.
The Concept of Immunosurveillance
Immunosurveillance is when the immune system finds and kills cancer cells. It’s like a guard that stops tumors from growing. The idea is that the immune system can spot and attack cancer cells.
Research shows the immune system is vital in fighting cancer. But cancer cells can hide from the immune system. They do this by using immune checkpoint molecules.
The complex battle between cancer and the immune system can be summed up in this table:
| Mechanism | Description | Effect on Cancer |
|---|---|---|
| Immunosurveillance | Immune system’s ability to detect and eliminate cancer cells | Prevents tumor growth and progression |
| Antigen masking and loss | Cancer cells evade immune detection by losing or masking antigens | Promotes tumor growth and progression |
| Immune checkpoint molecules | Cancer cells express molecules that inhibit immune response | Suppresses anti-tumor immune response |
Understanding how cancer and the immune system interact is key to finding new treatments. By focusing on how cancer cells hide from the immune system, we can create therapies that help the immune system fight cancer better.
Components of the Innate Immune Response to Cancer
The innate immune response is key in fighting cancer. It uses different cells to spot and get rid of tumor cells. We’ll look at the main parts of this defense, focusing on immune cells’ roles.
Natural Killer (NK) Cells: The First Line of Defense
Natural Killer (NK) cells are essential in the fight against cancer. They can find and destroy tumor cells without needing to see them before. NK cells use several ways to kill cancer cells, like releasing special granules and making cytokines to help other immune cells.
Key functions of NK cells include:
- Direct killing of tumor cells
- Production of cytokines to activate other immune responses
- Regulation of other immune cells through cell-to-cell contact
Macrophages and Their Dual Role
Macrophages are key in the innate immune response. They can help or hinder cancer growth. They can clean up cancer cells by eating them. But, some macrophages can help tumors grow by supporting their spread.
“Macrophages play a complex role in the tumor microenvironment, influencing both the progression and suppression of cancer.” – Expert in Cancer Immunology
| Macrophage Type | Role in Cancer |
|---|---|
| M1 Macrophages | Tumor suppression through pro-inflammatory responses |
| M2 Macrophages | Tumor promotion through anti-inflammatory and tissue remodeling activities |
Dendritic Cells: The Critical Bridge
Dendritic cells link the innate and adaptive immune responses. They grab and process tumor cell antigens. Then, they show these antigens to T cells, starting an immune attack on cancer.
The role of dendritic cells in cancer immunotherapy has been a significant area of research, with efforts to enhance their ability to stimulate anti-tumor T cell responses.
The Adaptive Immune Response to Cancer
Understanding how our bodies fight cancer is key. T cells and B cells are at the center of this fight. The adaptive immune response is vital in this battle. It activates immune cells to target specific cancer antigens.
T Cell Recognition and Activation
T cells are essential in fighting cancer. They spot cancer cells through unique antigens on tumor surfaces. This spotting activates T cells, leading to their growth and transformation into cells that can kill cancer.
Cytotoxic T Cells: Direct Cancer Killers
Cytotoxic T cells are a special type of T cell. They can directly kill cancer cells. They recognize antigens on cancer cells and release toxins that cause these cells to die. This is a major way the immune system fights tumors.
B Cells and Antibody Production
B cells help by making antibodies against cancer antigens. These antibodies mark tumor cells for destruction. They also help in killing cancer cells and can slow down tumor growth. B cells play a big role in fighting cancer.
How Cancer Evades the Immune System
Cancer cells are very good at hiding from the immune system. They use many tricks to avoid being seen and attacked by the body’s defenses. This makes it hard to fight cancer effectively.
Antigen Masking and Loss
Cancer cells hide by changing how they show themselves to the immune system. They can do this by not showing the right signals or by hiding them. This makes it hard for the immune system to find and destroy them.
Antigen masking is when cancer cells hide their unique markers. This makes it tough for the immune system to spot them as foreign.
Regulatory T Cells (Tregs) and Immune Suppression
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) help keep the immune system in check. But in cancer, they can stop the immune system from fighting the tumor. This helps the cancer hide from the immune system.
Research shows that tumors often have more Tregs. This is linked to a worse prognosis in many cancers. Tregs in the tumor can stop other immune cells from attacking, helping the tumor grow.
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO): A Key Immune Checkpoint
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) breaks down tryptophan, which is important for T cells. Tumors can use this to their advantage by making more IDO. This creates an environment that weakens T cells.
Studies link IDO to worse outcomes in several cancers. Researchers are looking into IDO inhibitors as a way to boost the immune system’s fight against cancer.
| Mechanism | Description | Impact on Immune Response |
|---|---|---|
| Antigen Masking | Reduction or loss of tumor antigen expression | Reduced recognition by immune cells |
| Regulatory T Cells (Tregs) | Suppression of effector T cell activity | Immune suppression and tolerance |
| Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) | Depletion of tryptophan, suppression of T cell function | Local immune suppression |
The Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Function
It’s important to know how cancer avoids the immune system. The tumor microenvironment is full of non-cancerous cells, like immune cells and fibroblasts. It also has the extracellular matrix and signaling molecules. This complex system affects how the immune system reacts to cancer.
Hypoxia and Metabolic Changes
Hypoxia, or low oxygen, is a key factor in the tumor microenvironment. It can change how immune cells work. For example, it can make immunosuppressive cytokines that weaken the immune response against cancer cells.
Metabolic changes in the tumor microenvironment also impact immune cells. These changes can make it harder for immune cells to fight cancer cells.
Studies show that cancer cells’ metabolic changes can use up nutrients needed by T cells. This compromises the immune response. It’s key to understand these changes to improve anti-tumor immunity.
Cytokine Networks in the Tumor Environment
Cytokines are important for the immune response. In the tumor microenvironment, they can either help or hinder anti-tumor immunity. Some cytokines attract immune cells, while others suppress them. The balance of these cytokines is critical for fighting cancer.
Therapies targeting specific cytokines or their receptors are being developed. These aim to change the tumor microenvironment and boost anti-tumor immunity. For more on how the body fights cancer, visit Liv Hospital’s article on the immune response to.
Stromal Cells and Immune Exclusion
Stromal cells, like fibroblasts and endothelial cells, are key in the tumor microenvironment. They help in immune exclusion, keeping immune cells away from cancer cells. They do this by creating barriers and making immunosuppressive factors.
| Component | Role in Tumor Microenvironment | Impact on Immune Response |
|---|---|---|
| Hypoxia | Low oxygen levels | Impaired immune cell function |
| Cytokine Networks | Signaling molecules | Promotion or suppression of anti-tumor immunity |
| Stromal Cells | Physical and immunosuppressive barriers | Immune exclusion |
Knowing how these components work is vital for creating effective cancer treatments. Treatments should target not just cancer cells but also the tumor microenvironment.
Does Cancer Weaken the Immune System?
Cancer can make it harder for the immune system to fight off infections and diseases. This is true, mainly in the later stages of cancer. It shows how cancer can weaken the immune system.
We will look at two key points. These are the direct effects on bone marrow and the overall weakening of the immune system in advanced cancer.
Direct Effects on Bone Marrow Function
Cancer can harm bone marrow, which is where immune cells are made. This harm can come from the cancer itself or from treatments like chemotherapy. This can make it harder for the body to fight off infections and can cause problems for cancer patients.
Some cancers, like leukemia, can get into the bone marrow. This can stop it from making healthy blood cells, including immune cells.
Systemic Immune Suppression in Advanced Cancer
Advanced cancer can make the immune system weaker. This makes patients more likely to get sick and can affect how well cancer treatment works. This weakening is caused by many things, including how cancer cells avoid being found by the immune system.
Cancer cells can make substances that stop immune cells from working. This includes T cells and natural killer cells. For more on how cancer treatment can boost the immune system, check out our page on what is immunotherapy.
It’s important to understand these ways to make better cancer treatments. Treatments that not only attack cancer cells but also help the immune system.
Cancers of the Immune System: A Special Case
Cancers that start in the immune system are a big challenge in medicine. These diseases, like lymphomas and leukemias, harm the immune system and come from its cells. To understand them, we need to know their unique traits and how they interact with the immune system.
Lymphomas: When Immune Cells Become Malignant
Lymphomas start in the lymphatic system, a key part of the immune system. They happen when lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, turn cancerous. There are two main types: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, each with its own prognosis.
Leukemias and Bone Marrow Disruption
Leukemias are cancers of the blood and bone marrow. They cause abnormal white blood cells to grow too much, taking over the bone marrow. This can lead to anemia, infections, and bleeding problems.
Leukemia can weaken the immune system a lot.
IDO Expression and Survival Outcomes
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an enzyme that helps suppress the immune system. Studies have linked high IDO levels to worse survival in many cancers, including immune system cancers. Learning about IDO’s role in immune suppression could help create new treatments.
High IDO levels might predict the outcome for some lymphomas and leukemias.
We’re learning more about how immune system cancers interact with the immune system. This knowledge is key for finding better treatments and improving survival rates for patients.
Modern Immunotherapies: Reactivating the Immune Response
New ways to fight cancer have been found in immunotherapy. These methods aim to boost the immune system’s fight against cancer. They include checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, cancer vaccines, and oncolytic viruses.
Checkpoint Inhibitors
Checkpoint inhibitors help the immune system fight cancer better. They work by blocking proteins that stop the immune system from attacking. Clinical trials have shown significant promise with these inhibitors, leading to their approval for various cancer types.
Pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 therapy, has shown to be effective against melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. But, these treatments can cause side effects, so patients need close monitoring.
CAR-T Cell Therapy
CAR-T cell therapy is a new and exciting field in immunotherapy. It involves changing a patient’s T cells to attack cancer cells. This treatment has been very successful in some blood cancers, like B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
The process starts with taking T cells from the patient. Then, these cells are changed to recognize cancer cells. This therapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape for certain blood cancers, giving hope to those who have tried other treatments.
Cancer Vaccines and Oncolytic Viruses
Cancer vaccines and oncolytic viruses are also new ways to fight cancer. Vaccines help the immune system see and attack cancer cells. Provenge, for example, is a vaccine that helps prostate cancer patients by boosting their immune response.
Oncolytic viruses kill cancer cells and help the immune system fight the tumor. T-VEC is a virus therapy for advanced melanoma. It kills cancer cells and boosts the immune response.
Both vaccines and viruses are promising treatments for cancer. They can be used alone or with other treatments. Research is ongoing to find the best ways to use them in different cancers.
Conclusion: The Future of Immune-Based Cancer Treatment
The immune response to cancer is complex and multifaceted. The field of cancer immunotherapy is growing fast. New research and clinical trials are looking into how to use the immune system to fight cancer.
We think the future of cancer treatment will focus more on immune-based therapies. By learning more about how the immune system reacts to cancer, we can make treatments better. This could lead to more successful outcomes for patients.
New treatments like checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapy are showing great promise. As we learn more about the immune system’s role in cancer, we’ll see even better treatments come along.
FAQ
How does the immune system respond to cancer?
The immune system fights cancer in a complex way. It uses both innate and adaptive responses to find and destroy cancer cells.
What is immunosurveillance, and how does it relate to cancer?
Immunosurveillance is the immune system’s ability to spot and get rid of cancer cells. It’s key in stopping cancer from growing and spreading.
How do cancer cells evade the immune system?
Cancer cells use tricks to avoid the immune system. They can hide their identity, suppress immune cells, and use immune checkpoints like IDO.
What is the role of NK cells in the immune response to cancer?
NK cells are a type of immune cell that helps fight cancer. They are the first line of defense against tumors.
How do T cells and B cells contribute to the immune response to cancer?
T cells and B cells are vital in the fight against cancer. T cells can kill cancer cells directly. B cells make antibodies to target cancer cells.
What is the impact of the tumor microenvironment on immune function?
The environment around tumors can affect the immune system. Factors like lack of oxygen, metabolic changes, and cytokines can make it harder for the immune system to work.
Does cancer weaken the immune system?
Yes, cancer can weaken the immune system. It can harm bone marrow and cause immune suppression, which is worse in advanced cancer.
What are cancers of the immune system, and how do they arise?
Cancers like lymphomas and leukemias come from immune cells. They can disrupt the immune system, making treatment harder.
What are the latest developments in immunotherapy for cancer treatment?
New immunotherapy methods include checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, vaccines, and oncolytic viruses. They aim to boost the immune system’s fight against cancer.
How does immunotherapy work to combat cancer?
Immunotherapy enhances the immune system’s ability to find and attack cancer cells. It offers a promising way to treat cancer.
What is the future of immune-based cancer treatment?
The future of cancer treatment using the immune system looks bright. Ongoing research and new immunotherapy methods will help us fight cancer better.
Our body’s immune system is always ready to defend us, even against cancer. But, tumors have found ways to sneak past these defenses. Learning how the immune response works is vital for finding new treatments and better care for patients.
At Liv Hospital, recent studies have shown how cancer cells and the immune system interact. They’ve looked into biomarkers and RNA methylation in tumors. It’s important to understand how the immune system fights cancer cells. This sets the stage for a deeper look at the immune response in the next sections.
Key Takeaways
- The immune system’s interaction with cancer cells is a complex process.
- Multiple components of the immune system contribute to identifying and destroying cancer cells.
- Understanding the immune response to cancer is key for new treatments.
- Recent studies have explored biomarkers and RNA methylation in tumors.
- Liv Hospital is dedicated to top-notch care and medical excellence in cancer treatment.
The Complex Relationship Between Cancer and the Immune System
The immune system fights cancer in a complex way. It can kill cancer cells but also let them hide. We’ll look at how cancer cells outsmart the immune system and the idea of immunosurveillance.
Cancer as an Immune Challenge
Cancer cells are a big challenge for the immune system. They find ways to avoid being found and killed. Recent research shows they can change immune pathways to spread. This battle between cancer and the immune system is key to the disease’s growth.
The immune system tries to spot and attack cancer cells. But cancer cells find ways to hide, like masking or losing antigens.
The Concept of Immunosurveillance
Immunosurveillance is when the immune system finds and kills cancer cells. It’s like a guard that stops tumors from growing. The idea is that the immune system can spot and attack cancer cells.
Research shows the immune system is vital in fighting cancer. But cancer cells can hide from the immune system. They do this by using immune checkpoint molecules.
The complex battle between cancer and the immune system can be summed up in this table:
| Mechanism | Description | Effect on Cancer |
|---|---|---|
| Immunosurveillance | Immune system’s ability to detect and eliminate cancer cells | Prevents tumor growth and progression |
| Antigen masking and loss | Cancer cells evade immune detection by losing or masking antigens | Promotes tumor growth and progression |
| Immune checkpoint molecules | Cancer cells express molecules that inhibit immune response | Suppresses anti-tumor immune response |
Understanding how cancer and the immune system interact is key to finding new treatments. By focusing on how cancer cells hide from the immune system, we can create therapies that help the immune system fight cancer better.
Components of the Innate Immune Response to Cancer
The innate immune response is key in fighting cancer. It uses different cells to spot and get rid of tumor cells. We’ll look at the main parts of this defense, focusing on immune cells’ roles.
Natural Killer (NK) Cells: The First Line of Defense
Natural Killer (NK) cells are essential in the fight against cancer. They can find and destroy tumor cells without needing to see them before. NK cells use several ways to kill cancer cells, like releasing special granules and making cytokines to help other immune cells.
Key functions of NK cells include:
- Direct killing of tumor cells
- Production of cytokines to activate other immune responses
- Regulation of other immune cells through cell-to-cell contact
Macrophages and Their Dual Role
Macrophages are key in the innate immune response. They can help or hinder cancer growth. They can clean up cancer cells by eating them. But, some macrophages can help tumors grow by supporting their spread.
“Macrophages play a complex role in the tumor microenvironment, influencing both the progression and suppression of cancer.” – Expert in Cancer Immunology
| Macrophage Type | Role in Cancer |
|---|---|
| M1 Macrophages | Tumor suppression through pro-inflammatory responses |
| M2 Macrophages | Tumor promotion through anti-inflammatory and tissue remodeling activities |
Dendritic Cells: The Critical Bridge
Dendritic cells link the innate and adaptive immune responses. They grab and process tumor cell antigens. Then, they show these antigens to T cells, starting an immune attack on cancer.
The role of dendritic cells in cancer immunotherapy has been a significant area of research, with efforts to enhance their ability to stimulate anti-tumor T cell responses.
The Adaptive Immune Response to Cancer
Understanding how our bodies fight cancer is key. T cells and B cells are at the center of this fight. The adaptive immune response is vital in this battle. It activates immune cells to target specific cancer antigens.
T Cell Recognition and Activation
T cells are essential in fighting cancer. They spot cancer cells through unique antigens on tumor surfaces. This spotting activates T cells, leading to their growth and transformation into cells that can kill cancer.
Cytotoxic T Cells: Direct Cancer Killers
Cytotoxic T cells are a special type of T cell. They can directly kill cancer cells. They recognize antigens on cancer cells and release toxins that cause these cells to die. This is a major way the immune system fights tumors.
B Cells and Antibody Production
B cells help by making antibodies against cancer antigens. These antibodies mark tumor cells for destruction. They also help in killing cancer cells and can slow down tumor growth. B cells play a big role in fighting cancer.
How Cancer Evades the Immune System
Cancer cells are very good at hiding from the immune system. They use many tricks to avoid being seen and attacked by the body’s defenses. This makes it hard to fight cancer effectively.
Antigen Masking and Loss
Cancer cells hide by changing how they show themselves to the immune system. They can do this by not showing the right signals or by hiding them. This makes it hard for the immune system to find and destroy them.
Antigen masking is when cancer cells hide their unique markers. This makes it tough for the immune system to spot them as foreign.
Regulatory T Cells (Tregs) and Immune Suppression
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) help keep the immune system in check. But in cancer, they can stop the immune system from fighting the tumor. This helps the cancer hide from the immune system.
Research shows that tumors often have more Tregs. This is linked to a worse prognosis in many cancers. Tregs in the tumor can stop other immune cells from attacking, helping the tumor grow.
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO): A Key Immune Checkpoint
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) breaks down tryptophan, which is important for T cells. Tumors can use this to their advantage by making more IDO. This creates an environment that weakens T cells.
Studies link IDO to worse outcomes in several cancers. Researchers are looking into IDO inhibitors as a way to boost the immune system’s fight against cancer.
| Mechanism | Description | Impact on Immune Response |
|---|---|---|
| Antigen Masking | Reduction or loss of tumor antigen expression | Reduced recognition by immune cells |
| Regulatory T Cells (Tregs) | Suppression of effector T cell activity | Immune suppression and tolerance |
| Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) | Depletion of tryptophan, suppression of T cell function | Local immune suppression |
The Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Function
It’s important to know how cancer avoids the immune system. The tumor microenvironment is full of non-cancerous cells, like immune cells and fibroblasts. It also has the extracellular matrix and signaling molecules. This complex system affects how the immune system reacts to cancer.
Hypoxia and Metabolic Changes
Hypoxia, or low oxygen, is a key factor in the tumor microenvironment. It can change how immune cells work. For example, it can make immunosuppressive cytokines that weaken the immune response against cancer cells.
Metabolic changes in the tumor microenvironment also impact immune cells. These changes can make it harder for immune cells to fight cancer cells.
Studies show that cancer cells’ metabolic changes can use up nutrients needed by T cells. This compromises the immune response. It’s key to understand these changes to improve anti-tumor immunity.
Cytokine Networks in the Tumor Environment
Cytokines are important for the immune response. In the tumor microenvironment, they can either help or hinder anti-tumor immunity. Some cytokines attract immune cells, while others suppress them. The balance of these cytokines is critical for fighting cancer.
Therapies targeting specific cytokines or their receptors are being developed. These aim to change the tumor microenvironment and boost anti-tumor immunity. For more on how the body fights cancer, visit Liv Hospital’s article on the immune response to.
Stromal Cells and Immune Exclusion
Stromal cells, like fibroblasts and endothelial cells, are key in the tumor microenvironment. They help in immune exclusion, keeping immune cells away from cancer cells. They do this by creating barriers and making immunosuppressive factors.
| Component | Role in Tumor Microenvironment | Impact on Immune Response |
|---|---|---|
| Hypoxia | Low oxygen levels | Impaired immune cell function |
| Cytokine Networks | Signaling molecules | Promotion or suppression of anti-tumor immunity |
| Stromal Cells | Physical and immunosuppressive barriers | Immune exclusion |
Knowing how these components work is vital for creating effective cancer treatments. Treatments should target not just cancer cells but also the tumor microenvironment.
Does Cancer Weaken the Immune System?
Cancer can make it harder for the immune system to fight off infections and diseases. This is true, mainly in the later stages of cancer. It shows how cancer can weaken the immune system.
We will look at two key points. These are the direct effects on bone marrow and the overall weakening of the immune system in advanced cancer.
Direct Effects on Bone Marrow Function
Cancer can harm bone marrow, which is where immune cells are made. This harm can come from the cancer itself or from treatments like chemotherapy. This can make it harder for the body to fight off infections and can cause problems for cancer patients.
Some cancers, like leukemia, can get into the bone marrow. This can stop it from making healthy blood cells, including immune cells.
Systemic Immune Suppression in Advanced Cancer
Advanced cancer can make the immune system weaker. This makes patients more likely to get sick and can affect how well cancer treatment works. This weakening is caused by many things, including how cancer cells avoid being found by the immune system.
Cancer cells can make substances that stop immune cells from working. This includes T cells and natural killer cells. For more on how cancer treatment can boost the immune system, check out our page on what is immunotherapy.
It’s important to understand these ways to make better cancer treatments. Treatments that not only attack cancer cells but also help the immune system.
Cancers of the Immune System: A Special Case
Cancers that start in the immune system are a big challenge in medicine. These diseases, like lymphomas and leukemias, harm the immune system and come from its cells. To understand them, we need to know their unique traits and how they interact with the immune system.
Lymphomas: When Immune Cells Become Malignant
Lymphomas start in the lymphatic system, a key part of the immune system. They happen when lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, turn cancerous. There are two main types: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, each with its own prognosis.
Leukemias and Bone Marrow Disruption
Leukemias are cancers of the blood and bone marrow. They cause abnormal white blood cells to grow too much, taking over the bone marrow. This can lead to anemia, infections, and bleeding problems.
Leukemia can weaken the immune system a lot.
IDO Expression and Survival Outcomes
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an enzyme that helps suppress the immune system. Studies have linked high IDO levels to worse survival in many cancers, including immune system cancers. Learning about IDO’s role in immune suppression could help create new treatments.
High IDO levels might predict the outcome for some lymphomas and leukemias.
We’re learning more about how immune system cancers interact with the immune system. This knowledge is key for finding better treatments and improving survival rates for patients.
Modern Immunotherapies: Reactivating the Immune Response
New ways to fight cancer have been found in immunotherapy. These methods aim to boost the immune system’s fight against cancer. They include checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, cancer vaccines, and oncolytic viruses.
Checkpoint Inhibitors
Checkpoint inhibitors help the immune system fight cancer better. They work by blocking proteins that stop the immune system from attacking. Clinical trials have shown significant promise with these inhibitors, leading to their approval for various cancer types.
Pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 therapy, has shown to be effective against melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. But, these treatments can cause side effects, so patients need close monitoring.
CAR-T Cell Therapy
CAR-T cell therapy is a new and exciting field in immunotherapy. It involves changing a patient’s T cells to attack cancer cells. This treatment has been very successful in some blood cancers, like B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
The process starts with taking T cells from the patient. Then, these cells are changed to recognize cancer cells. This therapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape for certain blood cancers, giving hope to those who have tried other treatments.
Cancer Vaccines and Oncolytic Viruses
Cancer vaccines and oncolytic viruses are also new ways to fight cancer. Vaccines help the immune system see and attack cancer cells. Provenge, for example, is a vaccine that helps prostate cancer patients by boosting their immune response.
Oncolytic viruses kill cancer cells and help the immune system fight the tumor. T-VEC is a virus therapy for advanced melanoma. It kills cancer cells and boosts the immune response.
Both vaccines and viruses are promising treatments for cancer. They can be used alone or with other treatments. Research is ongoing to find the best ways to use them in different cancers.
Conclusion: The Future of Immune-Based Cancer Treatment
The immune response to cancer is complex and multifaceted. The field of cancer immunotherapy is growing fast. New research and clinical trials are looking into how to use the immune system to fight cancer.
We think the future of cancer treatment will focus more on immune-based therapies. By learning more about how the immune system reacts to cancer, we can make treatments better. This could lead to more successful outcomes for patients.
New treatments like checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapy are showing great promise. As we learn more about the immune system’s role in cancer, we’ll see even better treatments come along.
FAQ
- Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy / Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-025-02280-1
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) / PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4746082/
- Immunopaedia: https://immunopaedia.org.za/immunology/special-focus-area/2-cancer-tumours/immune-responses-to-cancer/
- Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41568-021-00347-z
- Cancer Research UK: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/body-systems-and-cancer/the-immune-system-and-cancer
