Cancer Immunology - Acquired & Innate Immune System

Acquired & Innate Immune System

The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against foreign invaders. A good immune system provides good health. When the immune system malfunctions, people can develop a number of serious, even life-threatening, diseases, including cancer. The immune system can be divided into two main branches: the innate immune system and the acquired immune system.

Innate Immune System

This immune system is the body’s first line of defense against infection. It includes physical and chemical barriers, such as skin and mucus, that prevent pathogens from entering the body. This type of immune system also includes cells that kill infected or damaged cells and produce inflammation, which helps to remove harmful substances and debris. It is a nonspecific response that does not change over time.

Acquired Immune System

The acquired immune system is a more sophisticated system that develops over time. It is made up of special cells, called antibodies, that are produced in response to an infection. Antibodies recognize and attach to foreign invaders, helping to destroy them. The acquired immune system also includes cells that remember past infections and can mount a more rapid and effective response if the same pathogen is encountered again. When the innate immune system is not enough to fight off an infection, the acquired immune system kicks in to provide additional protection.

The two branches of the immune system work together to protect the body against disease. The first immune system provides the first line of defense, while the acquired immune system provides a more targeted response. Both the innate and acquired immune systems play important roles in protecting the body from disease.

Cancer Immunology

Cancer immunology is the study of the interaction between the immune system and cancer. Cancer immunology research is an area of great interest for scientists exploring the reasons for cancer and seeking better therapeutic solutions. Major areas of study include developing a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of cancer immunity, gene expression profiling, and the development of immune-based treatments.

The CC Treatment includes immune-based technology in its concepts. For a variety of reasons researchers are still trying to understand, sometimes unknown to us, how our own cells change and become malignant “immortal” cancer cells, dividing uncontrollably or losing the ability to die off as normal cells due when they become injured or changed. The cell change is so subtle that the body’s immune system fails to recognize and respond to the threat. This allows tumors to grow and the cells to spread to other areas of the body.

Cancer immunology seeks to understand why the immune system fails to recognize and respond to cancer cells, and to develop ways to improve the body’s natural ability to fight cancer. A better understanding of cancer immunity may lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects.

The Cancer Genome Atlas

(TCGA) is a comprehensive effort to map the genes that are altered in cancer. The CC Treatment concepts seek to develop new ways to use the information from these maps to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Although cancer immunotherapy is a relatively new field, it has already made great strides. In the past few decades, immunotherapy has transformed from an experimental therapy to a standard part of cancer care. Immunotherapy is now used to treat a variety of cancers, including melanoma, lung cancer, kidney cancer, and bladder cancer.

We hope that this page has provided you with a better understanding of cancer immunotherapy and its role in cancer treatment. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.