Disorders Associated With The Immune System |
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Cancer cells have undergone transformation, divide uncontrollably, and posses tumor-associated antigens.
Immunological surveillance – response of immune system to cancer cells
Cytotoxic T cells and NK cells recognize and lyse cancerous cells.
Cancer cells may escape immunosurveillance, may suppress T cells, or may grow faster than the immune system can respond.
TNF and cytokines are being tested as cancer treatments.
Immunotoxins – cytotoxins linked to monoclonal antibodies avoid the problems of traditional chemotherapy.
Vaccines using tumor antigens may work (Marek’s disease in poultry, melanoma in humans??), especially when tailored to the patients HLA type.
Approaches that involve taking a patient's T-cells, exposing them to tumor antigens and cytokines in vitro, and reintroducing them into the patient have shown some promise.