Cancer 'Brainwashes' Immune System

Cancer cells are experts on manipulating other cells, resulting in the body’s defence helping the tumour.

Your immune system eliminates potential cancer cells throughout your life. The efficient system means that the risk of developing cancer is limited, after all. But in rare cases, the cancer cells develop the ability to slow the immune system, so the cancer is allowed to grow.

The immune system consists of a series of different types of cells. Some recognize cancer cells, some kill cancer cells, some keep track of the other immune cells. Particularly the latter type is a good target, when it comes to cancer cell manipulation. By means of specific neurotransmitters, the tumour convinces immune cells to stop the entire immune system’s attack.

However, the manipulation does not stop with the immune system. According to a new study, cancer cells in the pancreas often use bacteria to destroy chemo drugs in the tumour, so the treatment cannot kill the cancer.