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Published on: December 11, 2017

Immune escape of tumors: apoptosis resistance and tumor counterattack

Frederik H Igney1, Peter H Krammer

  • 1Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.

Journal of Leukocyte Biology
|June 7, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Tumors evade immune detection through various mechanisms, hindering effective cancer immunotherapy. This review focuses on how tumors exploit apoptosis to escape immune surveillance and rejection.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Immune system interactions with malignant cells are crucial in cancer development.
  • Tumorigenesis involves the failure of immune surveillance to detect and eliminate transformed cells.
  • Tumors employ diverse strategies to evade immune-mediated rejection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review tumor immune escape mechanisms.
  • To emphasize apoptosis-related mechanisms in tumor immune evasion.
  • To provide insights into challenges for cancer immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of cellular and molecular mechanisms of tumor immune escape.
  • Focus on apoptosis pathways utilized by tumors.
  • Analysis of current understanding and clinical limitations of cancer immunotherapy.

Main Results:

  • Tumors utilize multiple sophisticated mechanisms to avoid immune detection and destruction.
  • Apoptosis evasion is a significant strategy employed by malignant cells.
  • Detailed knowledge of these mechanisms has not yet translated into widespread clinical immunotherapy success.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding tumor immune escape, particularly apoptosis-related pathways, is critical.
  • Overcoming these evasion tactics is essential for advancing cancer immunotherapy.
  • Further research is needed to translate molecular insights into effective clinical treatments.

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