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Could treatments boost the immune system?
The body's immune system does not easily destroy cancer cells. However, there is sometimes a small immune response, which some therapies aim to boost. Researchers are also trying to develop cancer antibodies - tags that will recognise and stick to only cancer cells. These tags could seek out cancer cells, and either draw them to the attention of the immune system, or deliver an anti-cancer drug.Enlarge
Immune therapies: herceptin antibodies attacking breast cancer cells (stained brown).
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