ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 contains an overview of the confl ict between the immune system’s T cells and cancer cells that develop in our bodies. It is a critical battle that can often determine whether we can survive the diagnosis of cancer. Learning about what factors determine the outcome of the battle between these two cells will enhance our ability to understand how new immune-based anti-cancer therapies are developed. The therapies will be discussed in detail later, but they make use of our own immune systems. Therapies like this minimize or eliminate the use of chemotherapy, which often has unwanted side effects. In an effort to understand how immunebased therapy works, it is essential that we learn about the two cells involved in its development. After this, we describe how the immune system works together to help T cells attack the cancer. Next, we examine the ways in which cancer cells cause problems by circumventing the ability of T cells to eliminate them. We also examine the defi nition and history of immunotherapy as it relates to current immune-based therapies. Finally, we review new experimental approaches to T cell-based immunotherapy. This will give us an idea of what the future of immunotherapy will look like. The information developed today will determine whether the T cell wins the battle against the cancer cell.
