IMMUNOSUPPRESSION BY METASTATIC TUMORS

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

IMMUNOSUPPRESSION BY METASTATIC TUMORS

Cancer Growth Prog; 4:133-8 1989. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/90657750
Brunson KW; Goldfarb RH; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Pfizer Central Res., Eastern Point; Rd., Croton, CT 06340

Abstract: The role of the immune response in preventing or limiting tumor growth and in affecting metastases has long been debated. A consensus has emerged that the major components of the immune system involved in surveillance and tumor cell killing are cell-mediated: T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity, macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity (including antibody-dependent cell-mediated toxicity) and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity of tumor cells. Aspects of immune suppression found in association with a variety of metastatic tumors are reviewed under the following headings: immunosuppression, tumors and immunosuppression (T-lymphocyte effects, NK cell effects, macrophage/monocyte effects, and multiparameter tests), increased immunosuppression by metastatic tumor cells, tumor immunosuppressive substances, and viral immunosuppression. Immunosuppression may be brought about in a variety of ways, and it is likely that metastatic tumor cells can be immunosuppressive through several mechanisms. Experimental and clinical studies show that different immune parameters may be affected adversely by progressively growing tumor cells and/or their products; the changes in the cellular and humoral components of the host immune system may be selective or general. As a tumor grows progressively and metastasis occurs, the trend is toward increased immunosuppression of the tumor-bearing host. It is possible that an important subpopulation of metastatic tumors may contain tumor cells that have increased capacity for immunosuppression. Although the mechanisms for tumor immunosuppression are not understood well yet, recent observations, such as immunosuppression by viral p15E and related substances, may lead to a common target or set of targets for intervention of tumor immunosuppressive activity. (82 Refs)

Keywords: Animal Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity Cytotoxicity, Immunologic Gene Products, gag/IMMUNOLOGY Human Immune Tolerance Killer Cells, Natural/IMMUNOLOGY Macrophages/IMMUNOLOGY Neoplasm Metastasis/*IMMUNOLOGY Neoplasm Proteins/PHYSIOLOGY T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY Tumor Cells, Cultured/IMMUNOLOGY Tumor Stem Cells/IMMUNOLOGY Viral Structural Proteins/IMMUNOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW REVIEW, TUTORIAL
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M9030726

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