Review

British Journal of Cancer (2000) 82, 1900–1906. doi:10.1054/bjoc.2000.1206 www.bjcancer.com
Published online 23 May 2000

Immune selection in neoplasia: towards a microevolutionary model of cancer development

S J Pettit1, K Seymour1, E O'Flaherty1 and J A Kirby1

1Surgical Immunobiology Group, Department of Surgery, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK

Received 13 April 1999; Revised 1 February 2000; Accepted 17 February 2000.

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Abstract

The dual properties of genetic instability and clonal expansion allow the development of a tumour to occur in a microevolutionary fashion. A broad range of pressures are exerted upon a tumour during neoplastic development. Such pressures are responsible for the selection of adaptations which provide a growth or survival advantage to the tumour. The nature of such selective pressures is implied in the phenotype of tumours that have undergone selection. We have reviewed a range of immunologically relevant adaptations that are frequently exhibited by common tumours. Many of these have the potential to function as mechanisms of immune response evasion by the tumour. Thus, such adaptations provide evidence for both the existence of immune surveillance, and the concept of immune selection in neoplastic development. This line of reasoning is supported by experimental evidence from murine models of immune involvement in neoplastic development. The process of immune selection has serious implications for the development of clinical immunotherapeutic strategies and our understanding of current in vivo models of tumour immunotherapy. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

Keywords:

immune selection, evolution, tumour, immune escape

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