This article discusses recent advances in understanding the immune system's response to cancer. It identifies three key points:
1) Tumor antigens that the immune system can recognize have been identified, including molecules that are unique to cancer cells (tumor-specific) and molecules expressed differently by cancer and normal cells (tumor-associated). Over 100 peptides have been identified, some from unique mutations and most from proteins differentially expressed in tumors.
2) Cancers can elicit inflammatory responses through danger signals and tumor antigens, supporting the concept of "immunosurveillance" where the immune system recognizes and eliminates malignant cells. However, tumors can also suppress immunity through mechanisms like regulatory T cells and immunosuppressive enzymes.