Immunoregulation of Carcinogenesis: Past, Present, and Future1

Abstract

Twenty years ago the concept that immunological mechanisms might regulate carcinogenesis was highly controversial. Today this concept survives in modified form and continues to evolve as our knowledge of the immune system, the etiology of cancer, and tumor antigens expands. This review illustrates how our ideas about immune surveillance have changed in recent years and considers the significance of these changes for the future directions of cancer immuno-biology. [J Natl Cancer Inst 1988;80:722–727]