Role of immune system
- Immune response is to reject or destroy cancer cells
- May be inadequate as cancer cells arise from normal human cells
- Some cancer cells have changes on their surface antigens
- Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs)
- Cytotoxic T cells
- Kill tumor cells directly
- Produce cytokines
- Natural killer cells and activated macrophages can lyse tumor cells
- B cells produce antibodies that bind to tumor cells
