How the immune system works and why it seems to allow cancer to proliferate

Well SupportedCommon epithelial cancers have low reactivity to checkpoint modulators due to insufficient mutagenic burden.

Partially SupportedAn antigen is a molecule, generally a protein or carbohydrate, not normally expressed by body tissues, that can be recognized by lymphocytes.

Partially SupportedEffective cancer treatments aim to restore the balance between aggressive immune reactions and inhibitory factors, by either stimulating immune reactions (e.g., IL-2) or inhibiting suppressive mechanisms (e.g., checkpoint modulators like avelumab, PD-1 inhibitors).

Partially SupportedLymphocytes extravasate into tissue and divide to initiate an immune response when encountering a viral antigen.

Partially SupportedImmunization against pathogens results in long-lived lymphocytes that can recognize those foreign molecules for the rest of one's life.