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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Isolation of Uterine Innate Lymphoid Cells for Analysis by Flow Cytometry
Published on: October 14, 2021
Cancer Immunoediting by Innate Lymphoid Cells
1Laboratory for Immune Cell Systems, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Abstract:
The immune system plays a dual role in cancer. It conveys protective immunity but also facilitates malignant progression, either by sculpting tumor immunogenicity or by creating a microenvironment that can stimulate tumor outgrowth or aid in a subsequent metastatic cascade. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) embody this functional heterogeneity, although the nature of their responses in cancer has only recently begun to be unveiled. We provide an overview of recent insights into the role of ILCs in cancer. We also discuss how ILCs fit into the conceptual framework of cancer immunoediting, which integrates the dual role of the immune system in carcinogenesis. A broader understanding of their relevance in cancer is essential towards the design of successful therapeutic strategies.
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