Cytokine-based transformation of immune surveillance into tumor-promoting inflammation.
During the last decade, it has become clear that the mammalian immune system is able to recognize and partially suppress nascent tumors. Human T cells specific to oncogenes and onco-fetal antigens are present in human cancer patients and their tumors. At the same time, molecular links between tumor-associated inflammation and tumor progression have been uncovered, providing an explanation for the long recognized epidemiological link between inflammation and cancer. The synopsis of these findings suggests a new interpretation of tumor immunity. It appears that antigen recognition or antigen-specific T-cell expansion at large is not as profoundly impaired in tumor patients as the correct polarization, the survival and the effector function of tumor-infiltrating T cells. This review will focus on pro-inflammatory cytokines likely to contribute to the deregulation of tumor-specific immunity and its consequences.
Department of Oncology, Schering-Plough Biopharma (formerly DNAX), Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA.
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D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000502:physiology; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology
D016207:Cytokines; D053759:Interleukin-23; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12