The role of innate immunity in spontaneous regression of cancer

Abstract

Nature has provided us with infections - acute and chronic - and these infections have both harmful and beneficial effects on the human system. Worldwide, a number of chronic infections are associated with a risk of cancer, but it is also known that cancer regresses when associated with acute infections such as bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal, etc. Acute infections are known to cure chronic diseases since the time of Hippocrates. The benefits of these fever producing acute infections has been applied in cancer vaccinology such as the Coley's toxins. Immune cells like the natural killer cells, macrophages and dendritic cells have taken greater precedence in cancer immunity than ever before. This review provides an insight into the benefits of fever and its role in prevention of cancer, the significance of common infections in cancer regression, the dual nature of our immune system and the role of the often overlooked primary innate immunity in tumor immunology and spontaneous regression of cancer.

A Breakthrough: Macrophage-Directed Cancer Immunotherapy

“…Dr. Coley and a few others obtained some successes against human cancer in the early 20 th century by injecting mixtures of bacteria called ‘Coley’s Toxin’ (3). However, why this occurred was not clear, and the treatments were dangerous and mostly abandoned.…”

“…There are still hurdles to overcome. For example, earlier attempts at stimulating macrophages/innate immunity (typified by ‘Coley’s Toxin’) were accompanied by dangerous side-effects (3) that have also been observed in more recent attempts at immunotherapy (9). However, an increased understanding of the mediators involved in such side-effects, and an armentarium of new drugs should allow the positive effects of elevating M1/kill and other anti-cancer innate responses to be manifest while minimizing undesirable effects.…”

Is It Possible To Induce The "Spontaneous Regression" Of Cancer? A Mechanism of Activation for the Innate Immune Response

“…It is a very rare phenomena, estimated to occur an one per 100 000 cancer cases [1,2]. Regression is commonly associated with the strong acute infection or vaccine therapy [3,4]. Dr William Coley introduced, so called Coley's toxins, to the clinic at the end of XIX century [5].…”

Spontaneous regression of metastatic cancer cells in the lymph node: a case report

“…Even though this event seems to be rare, it has been observed for thousands of years [3]. Spontaneous regressions are known to be related to acute infections, vaccine therapy, surgical removal of the malignant tumor and the taking of herbal medicines [4].…”