Immune system and cancer cells

The term 'Immune system and cancer cells' refers to the complex and dynamic interplay between the host's immune surveillance mechanisms and the development, progression, and evasion of malignant tumors (National Cancer Institute, 2023). This interaction is the foundation of immuno-oncology, a field dedicated to harnessing the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells (Chen & Mellman, 2013). Key components of this system include tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, antigen-presenting cells, and various signaling molecules such as cytokines and checkpoint proteins. Cancer cells often develop sophisticated mechanisms to evade immune detection, such as upregulating inhibitory ligands like PD-L1 or creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment through the recruitment of regulatory T cells (Nature Reviews Cancer, 2019). While this interaction is the basis for many modern therapeutic strategies, it is not a single molecular target but rather a broad biological context involving numerous distinct receptors, enzymes, and pathways. Consequently, drug development focuses on specific components within this system rather than the system as a whole.

Other names

Immuno-oncologyTumor-immune microenvironmentCancer-immune interfaceCancer-immunity cycle

Not applicable as this represents a biological system/interaction rather than a specific molecular target.