European Immunology

Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy

The branch of biology that deals with interaction among immune system and tumor cells is called Immunology. This study is mostly relevant in result of novel therapies for cancer treatment. Cancer immunotherapy (sometimes called immuno-oncology) is the non-natural stimulation of the immune system to give cancer, cultivating on the immune system's normal capability to combat the disease. It is an application of the vital research of cancer immunology and a rising sub speciality of oncology. It exploits the point that cancer cells often have tumor antigens, molecules on their outward that can be sensed by the antibody proteins of the immune system, binding to them. The tumor antigens are often proteins or other macromolecules (e.g. carbohydrates). Usual antibodies fix to external pathogens, but the enhanced immunotherapy antibodies fix to the tumor antigens pattern and recognizing the cancer cells for the immune system to inhibit or kill.