Abstract

The presence of inflammatory immune cells in human tumors raises a fundamental question in oncology: How do cancer cells avoid the destruction by immune attack? In principle, tumor development can be controlled by cytotoxic innate and adaptive immune cells; however, as the tumor develops from neoplastic tissue to clinically detectable tumors, cancer cells evolve different mechanisms that mimic peripheral immune tolerance in order to avoid tumoricidal attack. Here, we provide an update of recent accomplishments, unifying concepts, and future challenges to study tumor-associated immune cells, with an emphasis on metastatic carcinomas.

Keywords

Immune systemBiologyCancerCytotoxic T cellCancer researchImmunologyCancer cellAcquired immune systemTumor progressionIn vitro

MeSH Terms

B-LymphocytesCarcinomaDendritic CellsDisease ProgressionHumansImmunologic SurveillanceInflammationKiller CellsNaturalMacrophagesNeoplasm MetastasisNeoplasmsNeutrophilsT-Lymphocytes

Affiliated Institutions

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Publication Info

Year
2018
Type
review
Volume
32
Issue
19-20
Pages
1267-1284
Citations
2051
Access
Closed

Social Impact

Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions

Citation Metrics

2051
OpenAlex
34
Influential
1747
CrossRef

Cite This

Hugo González, Catharina Hagerling, Zena Werb (2018). Roles of the immune system in cancer: from tumor initiation to metastatic progression. Genes & Development , 32 (19-20) , 1267-1284. https://doi.org/10.1101/gad.314617.118

Identifiers

DOI
10.1101/gad.314617.118
PMID
30275043
PMCID
PMC6169832

Data Quality

Data completeness: 90%