Cancer immunoediting hypothesis: history, clinical implications and controversies

Abstract

The main function of the immune system is to protect against infectious pathogens and to ensure tissue homeostasis. The latter function includes preventing autoimmune reactions, tolerizing cells to nonpathogenic environmental microorganisms, and eliminating apoptotic/damaged, transformed, or neoplastic cells. The process of carcinogenesis and tumor development and the role of the immune system in inhibiting progression of cancer have been the subject of intense research since the end of the 20 th century and resulted in formulation of the cancer immunoediting hypothesis. The hypothesis postulates three steps in oncogenesis: 1) elimination – corresponding to immunosurveillance, 2) equilibrium in which the growth of transformed or neoplastic cells is efficiently controlled by immune effector mechanisms, and 3) escape in which cancer progresses due to an ineffective antitumor response. In parallel, a new field of science – immune-oncology – has arisen. Attempts are also being made to quantify intra-tumoral and peritumoral T cell infiltrations and to define optimal immunological parameters for prognostic/predictive purposes in several types of cancer. The knowledge of relationships between the tumor and the immune system has been and is practically exploited therapeutically in the clinic to treat cancer. Immunotherapy is a standard or supplementary treatment in various types of cancer.

Smart Sensors and Microtechnologies in the Precision Medicine Approach against Lung Cancer

“…The key points of this paradigm are the following: (i) immunosurveillance of tumors occurs definitely; (ii) tumors can evade the immune response; (iii) both the adaptive immune system and the innate one are involved in the recognition and elimination of neoplastic clones [ 37 , 38 ]. Tumor elimination implies the activation of the same recognition mechanisms used to fight pathogens [ 39 ]. It iteratively selects and promotes the generation of tumor cell variants with the capacity to survive the immune attack, through a biological process known as immunoediting [ 40 , 41 , 42 ].…”

Deciphering Common Traits of Breast and Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells and Possible Therapeutic Approaches

“…This phase is aided by a proangiogenic microenvironment and the suppression of the immune response. This includes Treg cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, type 2 macrophages, IL10, TGF-ß, VEGF, 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), arginase-1, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as well as the overexpression of pro-survival proteins and inefficient presentation of tumor-associated antigens [ 318 ].…”

FAPi-Based Agents in Thyroid Cancer: A New Step towards Diagnosis and Therapy? A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…So-called "thyroglobulin elevated negative iodine scintigraphy" (TENIS) syndrome is seen in up to 27% of patients after the primary treatment for DTC [8] and represents a challenging diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma due to the limited strategies for an accurate assessment of the disease extension and treatment options. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ([ 18 F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT is a diagnostic tool commonly used in the management of several types of cancers [9]; in the TC scenario, [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT is recommended by the American Thyroid Association guidelines for detecting tumor recurrence and metastases in radioactive iodine refractory DTCs [4]. However, its sensitivity varies from 68.8 to 82%.…”

“…The TME closely interacts with the tumor cells, contributing to the complex mechanisms of tumorigenesis and the progression of various neoplasms [15][16][17]. Tumor cells gradually develop mechanisms to evade immune surveillance, a phenomenon known as "cancer immunoediting" [18][19][20]. During this dynamic process, the nearby macrophages and fibroblasts are transformed into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs).…”