title: Tumor immune escape mechanisms: impact of the neuroendocrine system.
abstract: Tumor cells act upon, and react to both their proximate and more distant environment, the mechanisms by which this is achieved being both autocrine and paracrine in nature. This interaction, however, takes place not only between adjacent malignant cells, but also non-malignant cells such as those of the immune system, the latter also partaking in the modeling of the tumor environment. Although tumor cells descend from normal tissue cells and thus bear in classical immunological terms 'self signals', it is evident that the immune system is able to recognize tumor cells as a harassment for the body and in consequence tries to eliminate these cells. On the counterpart, tumor cells acquire various characteristics which allow them to evade this immunological surveillance, and have been collectively coined with the term "tumor escape mechanisms". This review will describe and summarize current understanding of tumor escape strategies, and also more closely elaborate on the modulatory role of the neuroendocrine system in the immune system-tumor cell interaction.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, 58448 Witten, Germany. lang@uni-wh.de
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Entschladen
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weidt
authors.forename: Kurt S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Zaenker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D002459:Cell Fusion; D003863:Depression / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000502:physiology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D019139:Tumor Escape / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors