Immunotherapy and immunoselection -- tumour escape as the final hurdle.
Tumours are immunogenic and are commonly infiltrated by anti-cancer effector cells. Why, then, are they not completely rejected by the host? Unfortunately, tumours are Darwinian paragons, winning the battle against the forces of natural immune selection. Some of the latter can even act as double-edged swords, actually being subverted to become pro-tumorigenic. Prevention or reversal of tumour escape from the immune response therefore offers the possibility of reconstituting effective anti-tumour immunity and remains the major challenge for 21st century tumour immunology.
Pawelec
Graham
G
Section for Transplantation Immunology and Immunohaematology, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen Medical School, ZMF, Waldhörnlestr. 22, D-72072 Tübingen, Germany. graham.pawelec@uni-tuebingen.de
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D008024:Ligands