Immunotherapy in gastric cancer

Figure 1 Cancer immunoediting phases. A: Phase 1: Elimination. Tumor cells are recognized by innate and adaptive immune cell and are destroyed before they can become a clinical malignancy. Modified after Dunn GP[69]; B: Phase 2: Equilibrium. If tumor cells are not destroyed in the elimination phase, the tumor may enter an equilibrium phase. Genetic change and/or resistant to immune detection occur in the equilibrium phrase and tumor cells are maintained chronically. Modified after Dunn GP[69]; C: Phase 3: Escape. The tumor microenvironment allows that tumor cells to grow and change to become poorly immunogenic. The tumor microenvironment becomes immunosuppressive. Modified after Dunn GP[69]. NK: Natural killer; PD: Programmed death; IFN: Interferon; IL: Interleukin.