Abstract

DE LEON, Joel  and  PAREJA, Arturo. Cancer immunology I: molecular and cellular bases of the antitumor immune response. Horiz. Med. [online]. 2018, vol.18, n.3, pp.80-89. ISSN 1727-558X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.24265/horizmed.2018.v18n3.11.

Substantial material, financial and human resources are dedicated to research on tumor biology. The validation of biomarkers, the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods, the implementation of early detection programs in communities, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles have positively impacted on the prevention and control of this group of diseases. However, cancer remains a global health problem, due to the complex relationship between the host immune system and the cancer cells. It is a fact that the immune system´s effector mechanisms enable the detection and elimination of cancer cells. However, these immune mechanisms also promote the somatic evolution of tumors by selecting cellular clones resistant to immunity. This complex relationship conceptualized as cancer immunoediting develops mainly at the tumor microenvironment. Immunotherapy approaches are designed to reinforce antitumor immunity, while blocking immune escape mechanisms. This review starts a series of three articles that are going to review the molecular and cellular bases of the antitumor immune response, present the bases of tumor biology and, finally, address the implications of the complex relationship between the immune system and neoplasias for cancer immunotherapy

Keywords : Immune system; Immune system phenomena; Immune monitoring; Neoplasms.

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