Immunological Disorders and Immunotherapy
Open Access

Immune Warriors: How Patient Immune System Fights Cancer

Bingcheng Lin^{* *}Correspondence: Bingcheng Lin, Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy, Email:

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Description

The human immune system is responsible for defending the body against a wide range of harmful invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. However, sometimes the immune system can also recognize and destroy cancer cells, which are essentially cells that have grown and divided uncontrollably due to mutations in their DNA. The immune system has various components that work together to fight cancer cells. One such component is the white blood cells, which include T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells. T cells are particularly important for recognizing and destroying cancer cells. When a T cell recognizes a cancer cell, it releases chemicals called cytokines that stimulate other immune cells to attack the cancer cell. In addition, T cells can directly kill cancer cells by releasing toxic substances or by physically attaching themselves to the cancer cell and causing it to selfdestruct.

Another important component of the immune system that fights cancer is the lymphatic system. This system consists of lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, and lymphatic fluid. Cancer cells can spread through the lymphatic system and reach other parts of the body. However, lymph nodes can trap and destroy cancer cells before they have a chance to spread further.

In addition to these natural mechanisms, the immune system can also be enhanced or stimulated to fight cancer. One such approach is immunotherapy, which involves using drugs or other substances to stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells. For example, checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that block certain proteins on the surface of T cells, allowing them to better recognize and attack cancer cells. Another type of immunotherapy is adoptive cell transfer, which involves extracting T cells from a patient and then genetically modifying them to better recognize and attack cancer cells before reinfusing them back into the patient.

Despite the potential of the immune system to fight cancer, not all cancers can be effectively treated by the immune system alone. Some tumors can produce substances that suppress the immune system, making it harder for the immune cells to attack the cancer cells. In addition, some cancer cells can mutate in ways that make them invisible to the immune system, allowing them to evade detection and destruction.

Nevertheless, researchers continue to explore new ways to enhance the immune system's ability to fight cancer. One promising area of research is the use of vaccines to stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Cancer vaccines can be made from a patient's own cancer cells or from substances that mimic cancer cells. By exposing the immune system to these cancer-specific antigens, the immune system can learn to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.

Another area of research is the use of oncolytic viruses, which are viruses that can selectively infect and kill cancer cells. These viruses can be engineered to specifically target cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, making them a potentially powerful tool for fighting cancer.

In summary, the immune system plays an important role in fighting cancer, and researchers are continuing to explore new ways to enhance its effectiveness. While not all cancers can be effectively treated by the immune system alone, immunotherapy and other approaches hold promise for improving cancer treatment outcomes.