The immune system has a complicated but important role when it comes to tumors, affecting how cancer cells behave in different ways. Let's break it down:
-
Immune Surveillance:
- The immune system is like a watchdog. It is always on the lookout for weird or abnormal cells, like tumor cells. Special types of white blood cells, called T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, can spot and destroy these unusual cells.
-
Immune Evasion:
- Sometimes, cancer cells are sneaky. They can find ways to hide from the immune system. They do this by changing how they look, so the immune cells don’t recognize them. They can also create stuff that shuts down the immune attack, allowing the tumors to grow and spread even when the immune system is trying to fight back.
-
Inflammation:
- Long-term inflammation in the body can actually help tumors grow. When the body is inflamed, it releases certain substances that can create a friendly environment for tumors. An example of this happens with diseases like hepatitis, which can lead to liver cancer.
-
Tumor Microenvironment:
- Tumors can also change the area around them to help themselves survive. They can attract certain immune cells that help protect them from being attacked. This can make the tumors even more dangerous.
-
Immunotherapy:
- By understanding how the immune system and tumors interact, scientists have developed new ways to treat cancer. These treatments, called immunotherapies, aim to boost the immune system. Examples include checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapies, which help the immune system better recognize and fight tumors.
To sum it up, the relationship between the immune system and cancer cells is active and complicated. This dance between them can influence how tumors grow and how well treatments work.