Abstract
In this review, we first summarize current knowledge about the initiation of the immune response. Recent findings on the role of immune system in protection from cancer are discussed.
Current understanding of the interactions between tumors and cells of the immune system particularly at the early stages of carcinogenesis is the rationale for immunotherapy in clinical practice. Recent data from human and mice studies clearly show that the immune system is capable of detecting and eliminating the smallest expansions of transformed cells, well before the development of clinical cancer.
These advances suggest a need to change the current emphasis for harnessing anti-tumor immunity from therapy of advanced disease to the immunotherapy of early lesion.