Research lead
Researchers at Tübingen University’s Department of Dermatology, have advanced current understanding of how the immune system controls the growth of tumours, opening up new avenues in the development of cancer vaccines.
Until now it was believed that the immune system controls the growth of tumours by killing tumour cells. The Tübingen researchers, based at the Comprehensive Cancer Centre, have shown that the immune system can mount a cytokine-mediated response that prevents tumours from growing, without killing tumor cells.
The researchers have further shown that immune responses can both induce tumour dormancy or, unexpectedly, tumour growth. In the absence of either interferon or tumour necrosis factor, the immune response converts from a protective into a tumour-promoting immune response. The findings present a new route to the development of cancer vaccines.
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