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Interferons, immunity and cancer immunoediting leading to impaired immune function in cancer patients

Nature Reviews Immunology volume 7, pages 1–2 (2007)Cite this article

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We read with great interest the recent article by Dunn et al. on the role of interferons (IFNs) in cancer immunosurveillance and sculpting of developing tumours, which they addressed as cancer immunoediting1. The contribution of IFNs to the dynamic relationship between the host immune system and cancer, and their central role as coordinators of tumour–immune-system interactions is reviewed in an excellent and comprehensive way. It provides compelling evidence that IFNs indeed protect the host against tumour development. However, the authors also discuss accumulating data that show that the immune system can promote tumour growth, with an obligatory role for IFNs in this process.

We decided to comment on this article because the role of IFNs in cancer immunosurveillance and tumour sculpting is an almost neglected issue in clinical practice. Until recently, IFNs had a solely positive image as probably the most important anti-proliferative cytokine in terms of tumour elimination. However, evidence indicates that IFNs are also involved in the ability of some tumours to escape immune detection, induce tolerance and impair immune functioning by activating a negative-feedback loop if the immune system is unable to eliminate the malignant tumour cells and if immune activation persists2.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General and Transplant Surgery, Tyrolean Cancer Research Institute, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse, 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Gerald Brandacher & Raimund Margreiter

  2. Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Fritz Pregl Strasse 3, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Dietmar Fuchs

Authors
  1. Gerald Brandacher
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  2. Raimund Margreiter
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  3. Dietmar Fuchs
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Correspondence to Gerald Brandacher.

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Brandacher, G., Margreiter, R. & Fuchs, D. Interferons, immunity and cancer immunoediting leading to impaired immune function in cancer patients. Nat Rev Immunol 7, 1–2 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nri1961-c1

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