Fig. (3).

Proposed model for the interrelationship between garlic organosulfur compounds and the immune system in carcinogenesis. In early tumorigenesis, a delicate balance exists between the tumor-mediated pro-inflammatory response of the emerging tumor and the host anti-tumor immunity. When the host-mediated anti-tumor activity is weaker than the tumor-mediated pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity, tumor cells undergo immune escape and grow rapidly. By contrast, when host-mediated anti-tumor immunity is stronger than tumor-mediated pro-inflammatory and immunesuppressive activity, tumor cells are eliminated. We propose that long-term supplementation with dietary garlic organosulfur compounds contributes in shifting the balance from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-tumor response by dampening the pro-inflammatory response (left) and/or strengthening the anti-tumor immunity (right) towards tumor eradication. Note that the cytokines IL-10 and TGFβ can have dual effects in tumorigenesis depending on the context in a particular tumor microenvironment and are therefore listed in brackets.