文摘
The immune system involves a complex interplay between the host and its environment. Cancer cell growth requires immune tolerance in order to avoid rejection, this occurs despite tumour recognition by innate and adaptive immune components. As our understanding of the immune system and immunosurveillance improves, so too does our understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in tumour growth and local immunosuppression. Recent advances in tumour immunology and immunotherapy have lead to the development of an array of novel therapies with unprecedented efficacy in multiple tumour types, particularly in patients with metastatic melanoma. This review describes these advances in our understanding of the tumour-host interaction and discusses potential implications for patient care in the perioperative period.