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Review
. 2010 Sep;34(9):915-25.
doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2010.05.011. Epub 2010 Jun 2.

Comparative study of tumorigenesis and tumor immunity in invertebrates and nonmammalian vertebrates

Jacques Robert  1
Affiliations
Review

Comparative study of tumorigenesis and tumor immunity in invertebrates and nonmammalian vertebrates

Jacques Robert. Dev Comp Immunol. 2010 Sep.

Abstract

Despite intense study in mammals, the different roles played by the immune system in detecting (immunosurveillance), controlling and remodeling (immunoediting) neoplasia, and perhaps in metastasis are not fully understood. In this review, I will present evidence of neoplasia and invasive malignancy, as well as tumor immunity in invertebrates and nonmammalian vertebrates. I will also present a comparative and evolutionary view of the complex interactions between neoplasia and the host immune system. Overall, I wish to go beyond the too simplistic dichotomy between invertebrates with innate immunity that are only affected with benign neoplasia and vertebrates with adaptive immunity that are affected by metastatic malignancies or cancer.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. A simplified phylogeny of animals
Adapted from [101]. Approximate time in million of years for the emergence of the main group of organisms in parenthesis, and approximate number of species of main taxa are indicated in brackets. An example of organism of each class is also given. *Malignancies; @Putative malignancies; # Demonstrated anti-tumor responses
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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