The immune system is rapidly emerging as a key player in the development and progression of cancer. Whilst the body’s immune system is designed to detect and destroy cancer cells, cancerous tumours are known to produce molecules that suppress the immune response. A better understanding of this complex relationship between tumours and the immune system will allow for the development of better drugs and therapies to fight cancer. In this proposal, we will explore the role of a family of recently identified immune molecules, IL-37 and IL-38, in cancer development and examine whether expression of these alters over the course of cancer progression, and whether they affect the role played by other immune molecules. This will determine whether expression of these molecules can be used to predict cancer development and progression, and whether they can be targeted to treat cancer.
