Abstract
BACKGROUND: Immune cells and immune proteins play a pivotal role in host responses to pathogens, allergens and cancer. Understanding the crosstalk between allergic response and cancer, immune surveillance, immunomodulation, role of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated functions and help to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Allergy and oncology show two opposite scenarios: whereas immune tolerance is desired in allergy, it is detrimental in cancer. AIM: The current review provides an update on the role of immune cells and immune proteins in allergy and cancer fields. METHODS: Authors investigated the role of relevant immunological markers and the correlation with cancer progression or cancer suppression. RESULTS: Activated immune cells such as macrophages 'M1', dendritic cells (DCs), innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), NK cells, Th1, follicular T helper cells (TFH), TCD8+, B lymphocytes and eosinophils have inhibitory effects on tumourigenesis, while tolerogenic cells such as macrophages 'M2,' tolerogenic DCs, ILC3, T and B regulatory lymphocytes appear to favour carcinogenesis. Mastocytes and alarmins can have both effects. RIgE antibodies and CCCL5 chemokine have an anticancer role, whereas IgG4, free light chains, Il-10, TGF-β, lipocalin-2, CCL1 chemokine promote cancer progression. Fundamental is also the contribution of epigenetic changes regulated by the microRNA in cancer progression. CONCLUSION: This knowledge represents the key to developing new anticancer therapies.