It is known that the immune system through innate and adaptive immune responses plays an important
role to detect and eliminate primary chemically induced or spontaneous tumors. However, according to clinical
data and experimental studies using de novo immune-competent mouse models of cancer development, the
immune system can also participate as cancer-promoter. In this regard, deficient anti-tumor cell-mediated
immunity, in combination with enhanced pro-tumor humoral and/or innate immunity (inflammation), are
significant factors influencing malignant outcome. This review describes current knowledge of the interaction
between tumors and the immune system, cellular and molecular events that favor tumor immune tolerance and
current approaches to control tumor growth trough immunotherapy as well as novel strategies to block
immunosuppressive elements.
Keywords: Inflamation and cancer, cancer immunoediting, immune tolerance, immunological escape,
immunosuppression, suppressive molecules, T regulatory cells, dysfunctional dendritic cells, cancer immunotherapy,
tumor antigens, adoptive T cell immunotherapy, novel tumor immunotherapy, combinatorial therapy.
