Immunosurveillance in human non-viral cancers

Immunosurveillance of infections and therefore of viral-induced cancers is well admitted but that of nonviral cancers is a matter of hot debate. In the recent years, data collected from large libraries of human cancers demonstrated that the immune contexture of the primary tumors is an essential prognostic factor for patients’ disease-free and overall survival. The location in the tumor's center and invasive margin, the coordination of a memory Th1/cytotoxic T cell infiltrate, and the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis, chemotaxis, and cell adhesion are key factors for an immune control of disease progression. Systems biology predicted markers shaping an efficient immune reaction can serve as tools and targets for novel therapeutic approaches.