What immune cells are associated

with cancer cells?

There are two main types of immune cells associated with cancer cells:

• Innate immune cells:

These are the rst responders of the immune system and they attack
any foreign invaders, including cancer cells. Some of the important
innate immune cells associated with cancer include:
◦ Natural killer (NK) cells: These cells can directly kill cancer cells without
needing to recognize them as foreign.
◦ Macrophages: These cells can engulf and destroy cancer cells. However, in the
tumor microenvironment,macrophages can sometimes be switched to a tumor-
promoting state.
◦ Dendritic cells: These cells help to activate the adaptive immune system
against cancer cells.

• Adaptive immune cells: These cells are speci c to each antigen (foreign molecule)
and develop an immune response after exposure to a speci c cancer cell. The main adaptive
immune cells involved in the ght against cancer are:
◦ T cells: These cells can directly kill cancer cells or activate other immune cells to do so. Some T cells,
called regulatory T cells, can actually suppress the immune response to cancer.
◦ B cells: These cells produce antibodies that can target and destroy cancer cells.

The complex interplay between these immune cells and cancer cells determines the outcome of
the battle between the immune system and cancer. In some cases, the immune system is able to
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eliminate cancer cells. However, in other cases, cancer cells can evade the immune system and
continue to grow.

Understanding the role of immune cells in cancer has led to the development of new cancer
treatments, called immunotherapies. These therapies help the immune system to recognize and
destroy cancer cells.