The link between the immune system and cancer

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was written by doctors of Internal Oncology Department, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
This article provides information about the immune system, the effects of cancer and cancer treatments on the immune system. In addition, the article also outlines some immune-boosting therapies to help fight cancer.

1. The immune system is more important than we think

The immune system helps the body fight diseases and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites through the body's response to damaged or infected cells, also known as the immune response. Translate.
The immune system has a very close relationship with cancer patients because:
Cancer weakens the immune system; Cancer treatments that weaken the immune system; The immune system helps fight cancer.

2. Cancer treatments weaken immunity

Cancer weakens the immune system by spreading to the bone marrow. Bone marrow produces infection-fighting blood cells. This occurs most often in leukemia or lymphoma, but can also occur in other cancers. Cancer stops the bone marrow from making large numbers of blood cells.
Some cancer treatments temporarily weaken the immune system by reducing the number of white blood cells produced in the bone marrow. Cancer treatments that weaken the immune system are:
Chemotherapy; Cancer drugs; Radiotherapy ; High dose steroids.

3. How does the immune system help fight cancer?

Some cells of the immune system can recognize abnormal cancer cells and destroy them. However, this is not enough to completely cure cancer. There are now a number of new treatments that use the immune system to fight cancer, one of which is Autologous Immune Booster Therapy.
The immune system has 2 main components:
Available from birth. Developed after some disease. 3.1 Innate Immunity Immunity present from birth is also known as innate immunity. These mechanisms are always ready to act immediately to protect the body from infection. This comes from:
A barrier formed by the skin around the body; The inner lining of the intestines and lungs, which produces mucus that traps invading bacteria; The bristles trap invading bacteria; Stomach acid kills bacteria; Beneficial bacteria grow in the gut, preventing other bacteria from entering; The flow of urine pushes bacteria out of the bladder and urethra; White blood cells, called neutrophils, can find and destroy bacteria. Some diseases can overcome these natural defense mechanisms. For example:
Bladder catheter surgery wounds can become a pathway for bacteria to enter the bladder and cause infection; Antacids for heartburn can neutralize stomach acid that kills bacteria. Some cancer treatments can also weaken these protective mechanisms. Chemotherapy can temporarily lower the number of neutrophils, making it harder for the body to fight infections. Radiation therapy to the lungs can damage the cells that produce hair and mucus to get rid of bacteria.

3.2 Neutrophils These white blood cells are important for fighting infection. They can:
Move to areas of bacterial, viral or fungal infections; Swallow bacteria, viruses or fungi and kill them with chemicals. When a person does not have enough neutrophils in the blood , it is neutropenia .
Chemotherapy, cancer drugs, and some radiation treatments can lower neutrophil counts. So a person may be more susceptible to bacterial or fungal infections following these treatments.
Things to know after cancer treatment:
Infections can become serious very quickly in people with low neutrophil counts; Antibiotics can work well, so if you have a fever or illness, go to the hospital right away; Antibiotics may be given to help prevent serious infections if your blood counts are low. The body is often more likely to get sick from bacteria that already exist in the body, rather than from other people.
3.3 Acquired Immunity This is the immunity that the body acquires after contracting certain diseases. The body learns to recognize each different type of bacteria, fungus or virus it has encountered. So the next time the same bacteria, virus, or fungus invades the body, the immune system will be ready and easier to stop. This is why the body only gets certain infectious diseases like measles or chickenpox once in a lifetime.
Vaccination works by using this immune mechanism. A vaccine containing a small amount of the disease's protein is injected into the body. This does no harm, but allows the immune system to recognize the disease if it is encountered again. The immune response can then stop the disease.
Some vaccines use small amounts of live bacteria or viruses. These are attenuated vaccines. Scientists have altered the virus or bacteria so that it stimulates the immune system to make antibodies. The vaccine will not cause an infection.
Some other vaccines use dead bacteria or viruses, or parts of proteins produced by bacteria and viruses.

3.4 B Cells and T Cells Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cells involved in the acquired immune response. There are 2 main types of lymphocytes:
B cells; T cells. Bone marrow makes all blood cells, including B and T lymphocytes. Like other blood cells, they must fully mature before they can help with an immune response.
B cells mature in the bone marrow, others mature in the thymus. Once fully mature, the B and T cells migrate to the spleen and lymph nodes ready to fight infection.
What do B cells do? B cells respond against invading bacteria or viruses by making proteins called antibodies. The antibodies produced are different for different bacteria. The antibodies lock onto the surface of the invading bacteria or virus. The invader is marked with antibodies so the body knows it's dangerous and needs to be destroyed. Antibodies can also detect and destroy damaged cells.
B cells are part of the memory in the immune system. The next time the same germ invades, the B cells will make the right antibody to get ready. They can make antibodies very quickly.
How do antibodies work? Antibodies have two ends. One end sticks to a protein on the outside of the white blood cell. The other end sticks to the damaged germ or cell and destroys it. The tip that sticks to the white blood cell is always the same. Scientists call this the fixed head.
The first part of the antibody that recognizes germs and damaged cells is different, depending on the cell to be recognized. So it is called change head. Each B cell produces antibodies with a different tip from the other B cell.
Cancer cells are not normal cells. So some antibodies have modified ends that recognize cancer cells and stick to them.

What do T cells do? There are different types of T cells:
Helper T cells; T cells kill. Helper T cells stimulate B cells to make antibodies and help killer cells grow. T cells destroy the body's own cells that have been invaded by viruses or bacteria. This prevents germs from reproducing within the cell and then infecting other cells.

Based on the basis of the relationship between the immune system and cancer, AIET autologous immune system booster therapy was born, opening up new opportunities in cancer treatment for patients around the world. . The remarkable advantages of the therapy include:
The therapy helps patients to strengthen their general immunity, thereby helping to reduce chronic fatigue in cancer patients; Autologous immune-boosting therapy helps patients who have finished cancer treatment reduce the risk of opportunistic infections: flu, pneumonia, pharyngitis, fungal infections; Increase the effectiveness of cancer treatment. In Vietnam, autologous immunotherapy has been transferred to major hospitals, of which Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the first to deploy this special therapy. Previously, Vinmec also cooperated with Japanese experts to transfer and receive this modern technology from 2015.
For more information about self-supportive immune system strengthening therapy For cancer treatment at Vinmec, customers please contact via HOTLINE Vinmec International General Hospital.

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Reference source: cancer.net