Innate and adaptive immunity in lung cancer

The immune system is alerted to the presence of a pathogen through the activation of the innate immune system. The message is transmitted to the cells of the adaptive immunity through activated antigen-presenting cells. The development of specific immunity capable of eliminating the pathogen is orchestrated by cytokines and chemokines produced by the innate system. When everything functions optimally, the pathogen is eradicated and specific memory response is established. This finely tuned system can be subverted by pathogens, leading to disease. Immunity to cancer is orchestrated in the same way and it is now recognized that the early stages of tumour development are recognized by the cells of innate immunity that transmit this message to the cells of adaptive immunity. The molecules that alert the immune system and are also its targets are tumour antigens. Two important antigens for lung tumour-specific immunity are MUC1 and cyclin B1. We discuss how each molecule interacts with the innate and the adaptive immunity and the types of the immune responses that result for these interactions. We also discuss the state of immunosuppression of adaptive immunity in cancer patients due to chronic activation of the innate immune system.