IMMUNOTHERAPY
How does our immune system fight cancer?
The immune system employs both innate and adaptive responses to combat cancer cells. The innate immune response serves as the initial defense, involving natural killer (NK) cells that patrol the body for abnormal cells. These cells can recognize and destroy cancer cells without needing to identify specific abnormalities.
If cancer cells evade the innate response, the adaptive immune response is activated. This response targets specific abnormalities on cancer cells, involving lymphocytes such as B cells and T cells.
While more effective, the adaptive response takes longer to become active compared to the innate response.
B cells act as the body’s military intelligence, identifying targets and summoning defenses. They produce antibodies in response to foreign antigens, which can mark dangerous cells like cancer cells for destruction, including by enlisting natural killer (NK) cells. B cells also establish memory, allowing for a swift antibody response upon recognizing past antigens.
T cells, on the other hand, are crucial for recognizing and eliminating abnormal cells. Upon recognizing foreign antigens, T cells rapidly multiply to form an army, specifically targeting and destroying cells with these antigens, including cancer cells.
T cells act as the immune system’s soldiers, leading the charge against invaders by coordinating immune responses and eliminating infected and cancerous cells. They also establish memory to sustain long-term defense against cancer cells, ensuring continued attacks even months later.
However, despite the immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy lung tumor cells, tumors can still grow due to certain tumors evading immune responses. These tumors can suppress the immune system, preventing T cells from effectively killing cancer cells. Researchers are investigating methods to re-activate cancer-killing T cells to better combat tumor growth.
