How does the immune system fight cancer?
The immune system includes different types of white blood cells – each with a different way to fight against foreign or diseased cells, including cancer: • lymphocytes – white blood cells, including B cells, T cells, and NK cells. • B cells – produce antibodies that attack other cells. • T cells – directly attack cancer cells themselves and signal other immune system cells to defend the body. • natural killer cells (NK cells) – produce chemicals that bind to and kill foreign invaders in the body. • monocytes – white blood cells that swallow and digest foreign particles. These types of white blood cells – B cells, T cells, natural killer cells, and monocytes – are in the blood and thus circulate to every part of the body, providing protection from cancer and other diseases. Cells secrete two types of substances: antibodies and cytokines. Antibodies respond to (harmful) substances that they recognize, called antigens. Specific (helpful) antibodies match specific (foreign) antigens by loc
