Figure 1.

The interplay between the immune system and the tumor. There is a battle between the tumor and immune system; certain immune cells are able to attack the tumor, while the tumor has developed various ways to evade the immune system. Typically, tumors are eliminated by immune surveillance (elimination). However, some tumors are capable of pushing back against the immune system (equilibrium), where they eventually develop various mechanisms to stop immune-mediated tumor killing (escape). In NSCLC, the myeloid cells appear to be playing a major role in this process. Radiation may be able to push the immune system back to elimination.NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer.