Immunobiology of solid cancers: cellular and molecular pathways as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets

In the last four decades, tumor immunology has shed light on identity and functions of cells and molecules involved in tumor rejection through the involvement of the immune system [1]. Several groups of immune cells have been demonstrated to be able to contrast tumor occurrence and tumor progression by killing immunogenic tumor cells, a phenomenon recognized under the definition of “immunosurveillance” [2]. Unfortunately, cancer may evade immunosurveillance and progress through the modifications of its own antigens, which can reduce tumor immunogenicity and/or increase its immunosuppressive action [3]. After years of investigations, harnessing the immune system to attack cancer has recently led scientists to gather enough clinical data to show what a powerful sword immunotherapy can be-