Milestone of cancer research: Arresting cancers rather than killing them
Sunday, February 3, 2013 - 22:00
in Health & Medicine
Medical researchers have shown that the immune system is able to drive tumors and tumor cells into a form of permanent dormancy. The resulting growth arrest allows tumor control in the absence of cancer cell destruction. This permanent dormancy – scientifically known as senescence – may persist for the whole life of the organism. Thus, immunotherapy can prevent tumor development without destroying the cells.