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How does the immune system become the best nemesis of cancer? Discover the magical power of cancer immunotherapy!
In the history of anti-cancer, the rise of cancer immunotherapy is undoubtedly a revolutionary breakthrough. As scientists understand more about how the immune system responds to cancer cells, cancer immunotherapy has become an emerging and effective treatment option. This article takes an in-depth look at the role of the immune system in cancer and explains how to modulate this system to fight cancer.
Basics of cancer immunology
Cancer immunology is an interdisciplinary field focused on the interaction between the immune system and cancer progression. According to the cancer immune surveillance theory proposed in 1957, lymphocytes are considered to be sentinels that recognize and eliminate emerging tumor cells. This theory has shaped our understanding of cancer immunoediting, describing how cancer cells evolve under pressure from the immune system.
The process of cancer immunoediting can be summarized into three stages: elimination, balance and evasion.
Identification of tumor antigens
Tumors may exhibit tumor antigens that are recognized by the immune system and trigger an immune response. Tumor antigens can be divided into tumor-specific antigens (TSA) and tumor-associated antigens (TAA).
Tumor-specific antigen (TSA)
This type of antigen is only found in tumor cells, such as the E6 and E7 proteins of human papillomavirus, or mutated oncogene products such as Ras protein and tumor suppressor gene products such as p53.
Tumor-associated antigen (TAA)
TAA can also be found in healthy cells, but the expression amount, location or time in tumor cells are different. For example, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, while carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is found in ovarian and colon cancers.
Tumor escape mechanism
Tumor cells employ a variety of strategies to evade immune system surveillance. For example, some tumor cells reduce the expression of MHC I to avoid recognition by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, or express PD-L1 to inhibit T cell activity.
CD8+ cytotoxic T cells play a crucial role in anti-tumor immunity.
The influence of tumor microenvironment
Immunosuppressive factors in the tumor microenvironment, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), further enhance the ability of tumor cells to evade immune surveillance. Tumor cells can release transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) to promote the formation of a suppressive environment, which interferes with the normal function of the immune system.
Immunomodulation methods
Immunotherapy for tumors is developing rapidly. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies, have proven effective in restarting the immune system and enhancing the attack on tumors.
By blocking the interaction between tumor cells and T cell surface receptors, T cell activity can be restored.
The relationship between chemotherapy and immunotherapy
The role of chemotherapy in destroying tumor cells cannot be underestimated, but more and more research shows that the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy may produce better results. Certain drugs can boost the immune response, making treatment more effective.
As research shows, the way tumor cells die affects the immune system's response. Different death pathways initiate immune responses differently, and future studies will pay special attention to this change.
While cancer immunotherapy holds great promise, more research and experimentation are needed to perfect these approaches. Looking to the future, what new breakthroughs and developments are you looking forward to?
