While genes and their interaction with the environment play an important role in the development of cancer, it is ones' environment that seems to exert the major influence; diet/smoking in particular.

The presence of a cancer can activate a persons' immune system; it elicits both humoral (antibody production) and cell-mediated immune responses. However, neither seem to be effective at preventing the establishment or continued growth of a neoplasm. Cell-mediated responses (immune system cells that attack/kill cancer cells), at least in experimental systems, can be quite effective in clearing or preventing a cancer. Thus, an active area of research is directed at finding treatment protocols that might augment the bodies activation of tumor specific immune system cells; CTLs, NK cells, macrophages, and generally, an inflamatory response directed at the tumor.

These include:

• infusion of autologous (a persons' own) tumor-antigen activated antigen presenting cells, particularly dendritic cells,
• the use of transfected/irradiated autologous tumor cells that express peptides that are known to produce a tumor specific CTL response,
• transfected autologous tumor cells with genes that express various cytokines such as Il-2, Il-4, IFN-gamma, and GM-CFS,
• transfected autologous tumor cells with DNA for co-stimulatory molecules so as to improve tumor antigen presentation to T-helper cells which are necessary for CTL activation,
• transfer of genes, using viral vectors, into cancer cells that will result in their destruction, and
• DNA vaccines for tumor specific CTL epitopes.

Individuals currently undergoing conventional cancer therapy MUST inform themselves as to what alternative therapies are available; then consult their physician or nearest Cancer Research facility as to the availibility and appropriateness of these cancer treatment strategies......more information on this topic