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How does the immune system fight cancer?
The immune system includes different types of white blood cells - each with a different way to fight against foreign or diseased cells, including cancer:
- Lymphocytes - white blood cells, including B cells, T cells, and NK cells.
- B cells - produce antibodies that attack other cells.
- T cells - directly attack cancer cells themselves and signal other immune system cells to defend the body.
- natural killer cells (NK cells) - produce chemicals that bind to and kill foreign invaders in the body.
- Monocytes - white blood cells that swallow and digest foreign particles.
These types of white blood cells - B cells, T cells, natural killer cells, and monocytes - are in the blood and thus circulate to every part of the body, providing protection from cancer and other diseases. Cells secrete two types of substances: antibodies and cytokines. Antibodies respond to (harmful) substances that they recognize, called antigens. Specific (helpful) antibodies match specific (foreign) antigens by locking together. Cytokines are proteins produced by some immune system cells and can directly attack cancer cells. Cytokines are "messengers" that "communicate" with other cells.
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