Torch and Flame: Illuminating Cancer’s Secrets, Igniting the Fight

Dual Use of the Immune System might Revolutionize Breast Cancer Treatment

The immune system helps us to understand cancer and to attack it. Image created with DALL-E.

Breast cancer, the most prevalent malignancy among women, is as complex as it is devastating. Globally, millions of women confront this life-altering diagnosis every year. With about a 12% lifetime risk for women, this disease touches nearly every family, making research into its mechanisms and treatments a priority for the scientific community.

However, not all breast cancers are created equal. These malignancies come in distinct subtypes: Luminal A and B, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Each has unique molecular fingerprints that dictate treatment responses and survival rates. Luminal A, for instance, has a better prognosis, while TNBC, an aggressive and elusive subtype, is often harder to treat.

The Challenge of Understanding Immunity in Breast Cancer

Harnessing this complex interplay has transformed oncology, especially with immunotherapies like checkpoint inhibitors. Checkpoint inhibitors are a class of drugs designed to unleash the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. At the heart of this process are T cells, a critical component of the immune system. T cells are…