Abstract

A clear picture of the dynamic relationship between the host immune system and cancer is emerging as the cells and molecules that participate in naturally occurring antitumour immune responses are being identified. The interferons (IFNs) — that is, the type I IFNs (IFN and IFN) and type II IFN (IFN) — have emerged as central coordinators of tumour–immune-system interactions. Indeed, the decade-old finding that IFN has a pivotal role in promoting antitumour responses became the focus for a renewed interest in the largely abandoned concept of cancer immunosurveillance. More recently, type I IFNs have been found to have distinct functions in this process. In this Review, we discuss the roles of the IFNs, not only in cancer immunosurveillance but also in the broader process of cancer immunoediting.

Author affiliations

1. Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Box 8118, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.

Correspondence to: Robert D. Schreiber¹ Email: schreiber@immunology.wustl.edu

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