“When a tumor cell has just been born as a result of genetic mutations, the influence of carcinogenic factors, the immune system destroys it. But at some point, a failure may occur. The immune system is activated during any infectious or inflammatory process, at the same time it has its own suppressive mechanisms. As the malignant process develops, it initiates the inhibition mechanisms in the immune system, and these block the immune response”, explained Dr. Baldueva. “As a result, the tumor is gaining strength. .For some time, the balancing process can persist, when the immune system still controls the pathological cells, but already copes with them with difficulty. Then the escape occurs, the immune system stops recognizing the tumor, which begins to grow out of control and spread everywhere. the body. “
Suppression is a normal, non-pathological function of the immune system, which is also activated in a healthy person. Thanks to this function, the immune system “does not attack” healthy organs and tissues. That is why it is important to take care of the health of your immune system, this is one of the important measures to prevent cancer.
At the same time, if the tumor process is underway, oncologists turn to immunotherapy to “unlock” antitumor immunity.
“There are modern immuno-oncological drugs, the use of which helps the body, its own immune system, to fight the tumor. Immunotherapy makes the immune system again actively destroy pathological cells,” explained Irina Baldueva.
