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Cancer as an Autoimmune Disease

Because certain tumors such as breast cancers thrive in settings of low-grade inflammation, our immune response can sometimes facilitate tumor growth.

December 10, 2012 |
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Supplementary Info

Cancer as an Autoimmune Disease, 5.0 out of 5 based on 3 ratings

Sources Cited

Stewart TH, Heppner GH. Immunological enhancement of breast cancer. Parasitology. 1997;115 Suppl:S141-53.

Stewart T, Henderson R, Grayson H, Opelz G. Reduced incidence of rectal cancer, compared to gastric and colonic cancer, in a population of 73,076 men and women chronically immunosuppressed. Clin Cancer Res. 1997 Jan;3(1):51-5.

Le Mire L, Hollowood K, Gray D, Bordea C, Wojnarowska F. Melanomas in renal transplant recipients. Br J Dermatol. 2006 Mar;154(3):472-7.

Pardoll D. T cells take aim at cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Dec 10;99(25):15840-2.

Lanier LL. A renaissance for the tumor immunosurveillance hypothesis. Nat Med. 2001 Nov;7(11):1178-80.

Prehn RT, Prehn LM.The flip side of immune surveillance: immune dependency. Immunol Rev. 2008 Apr;222:341-56.

Leidner RS, Aboulafia DM. Recrudescent Kaposi's sarcoma after initiation of HAART: a manifestation of immune reconstitution syndrome. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2005 Oct;19(10):635-44.

Fenner, F. Frank Macfarlane Burnet 1899-1985 Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 7, no. 1, Canberra, Australia, 1987.

Acknowledgements

Images thanks to: James Heilman, MD via Wikimedia Commons, Emmanuelm, Sol Silverman, Jr., D.D.S., NDNG, dliban, Tom Hickin, FatMandy, Hôpital Necker - Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, and Hans Bjorknas.

Transcript

When people get heart or kidney transplants, they must be given immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of the new organ. What do you suppose happens to cancer rates in those individuals who are immunosuppressed? Well, for some types of cancer, like skin cancer, the risk goes up, which support to the so-called immune surveillance hypothesis, the idea that our immune system acts as a natural defense system for keeping cancer under control. This could explain why as we age and our immune function declines, our risk of cancer goes up. Here's a video, of our immune system in action. That big oval cell in the middle is a cervical cancer cell, and those little round cells are our T cells delivering the poison pill, setting off the cancer cells self-destruct mechanism… and there it goes, bye bye cancer. That's the apoptosis, or programmed cell death that I'm always talking about. Note this so-called renaissance of the immunosurveillance hypothesis was more than 10 years ago. The problem with the theory is that for some cancers, immunosuppression decreases risk. After a kidney transplant, your skin cancer risk may go up, but your breast cancer risk goes down, your rectal cancer risk goes down. Why would people with depressed immune systems have less cancer? This led to a new theory, kind of the flip side of immune surveillance, the thought that in some sense “”cancer may be considered an autoimmune disease. See, the only reason the immune system is even able to pick out cancer cells from noncancer cells is because tumors express foreign looking antigens, immune stimulating molecules. Why would tumors do that? Why would cancer cells go out of their way to wave a red flag around, saying hey, come get me? We think it’s because cancer tends to thrive in an setting of low level inflammation. There's lots of examples of chronic inflammation leading to cancer, like ulcerative colitis to colon cancer, chronic pancreatitis to pancreatic cancer, chronic hepatitis to liver cancer, stomach inflammation; stomach cancer. Oftentimes inflammation, the body's immune response, can further cancer’s agenda. By inciting an immune response, cancer creates its own inflammation, which may stimulate angiogenesis, help bring blood to the tumor and help it grow. So the curve may look like this, a low level of inflammation stimulates cancer growth, but if the immune system really catches on, then it can actually start hacking away at the tumor and slow it down. This may explain a mystery surrounding Kaposi’s sarcoma, a cancer affecting those with AIDS. When you start treating AIDS and the immune system starts to recover you can actually see a flare in the cancer… (So what are the dietary implications of this new autoimmune theory of cancer? Stay tuned.)

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by Ashley Rhinehart, RN.

To help out on the site please email volunteer@nutritionfacts.org

Dr. Michael Greger

Doctor's Note

This is the first of a seven video series that takes a deep dive into the human immune system to bring you Neu5Gc, a molecule in meat that human tumors may use to facilitate growth. It's one of the most fascinating topics in modern day nutrition—stay tuned! I've done similar in-depth series on reversing cancer cell growth, why animal products cause inflammation, changing vitamin D recommendations, arugula athleticism, why nuts don't appear to cause expected weight gain, as well as the latest dietary guidelines.

For some context, please check out my associated blog posts: How Tumors Use Meat to Grow and Plant-Based Diets for Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you haven't yet, you can subscribe to my videos for free by clicking here.

  • HemoDynamic, M.D.

    Today’s video is fantastic but the apoptosis video is absolutely phenomenal!!!
    Coolest ever!

    • Twinkle

      Please tell me — what is the title of Dr. Greger’s “apoptosis video” that you say is “absolutely phenomenal” and the “coolest ever”? I want to watch that one — thanks.

  • Anie

    Is cancer more likely to occur in patients with autoimmune diseases? I suffer from rheumatism arthritis since my teenage years and I also was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32 years old and, 8 years later, had to do chemotherapy again for metastasis in the lymph nodes of my neck and in my lung. Luckily, the Taxol treatment was able to clean it all up. But I still have inflammation and join pain even on a vegetarian diet. What wrong with my immune system?!?! Thanks for your wonderful work Dr. Greger.

    • sheof

      Are you cooking your veggies? I would look into a RAW VEGAN diet. It’ so important to clean up your lymphatic system and the raw vegan diet will do just that. Our lymphatic system is a toxic waste dump and you must move it all out.

      • Anie

        Thanks for your suggestion. I started juicing last May, when I found out I needed chemo again. I do believe it helps. But sticking to a totally raw diet, even during the cold winter months, is very difficult for me. I became a vegetarian in 2010 after attending one of Dr Greger’s conference in Montreal. I am now aiming for a Vegan diet. No more eggs and no more cheese. I am almost there. So that’s my goal for 2013 along with more physical activity.

        • kathi

          Go for it Anie. Your body will thank you for it as will the countless chickens and calves. You don’t have to go completely raw, take it in steps. Also, I would suggest that you avoid sugar, at least the processed kind. Cancer has been known to feed on sugar. Blessings on your journey to better health.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=670735069 Tan Truong

        Nothing wrong with cooking food; you just have to know what to cook and what not to cook. The studies are all there in “Becoming Raw” by Davis and Melina. http://www.amazon.ca/Becoming-Raw-Comprehensive-Nutritious-Raw-Food/dp/1570672385

        Legumes for example, are considered “protein powerhouses… Lentils, split peas, and most beans are extremely low in fat, though high in protein, iron, zinc, and fibre.” (“Becoming Vegetarian” by Davis and Melina, p.73).

        “For prevention of chronic disease and maintaining health, legumes fit right into today’s nutritional recommendations. For diabetics, heart disease patients, and those who want to reduce risk of these diseases, legumes have been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and improve control of our blood sugar.” (“Becoming Vegetarian” by Davis and Melina, p.75)

        “[W]hole grains are little nutrition powerhouses. They are excellent sources of carbohydrates and a number of valuable vitamins and minerals, including many B-vitamins, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, iron, potassium, and chromium. They are also great sources of fibre, plant sterols, and numerous phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds and, in some cases, phytoestrogens.”
        (“Becoming Vegetarian” by Davis and Melina, p.153).

        Here are some videos pertaining to raw vs. cooking:

        Best Cooking Method
        Which are the gentlest cooking methods for preserving nutrients and which vegetables have more antioxidants cooked than raw.
        http://nutritionfacts.org/video/best-cooking-method/

        Raw Food Nutrient Absorption
        We should prepare vegetables in whichever manner entices us to eat the greatest quantity.
        http://nutritionfacts.org/video/raw-food-nutrient-absorption-2/

        Raw vs. Cooked Broccoli
        Which results in greater phytonutrient absorption: raw broccoli, steamed, boiled, or microwaved?
        http://nutritionfacts.org/video/raw-vs-cooked-broccoli-2/

        Raw Veggies Versus Cooked for Heart Disease
        Fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, but which is more protective, raw or cooked?
        http://nutritionfacts.org/video/raw-veggies-versus-cooked-for-heart-disease/

        Raw Food Nutrient Absorption: There are certain phytonutrients that are absorbed better from cooked foods.
        http://nutritionfacts.org/video/raw-food-nutrient-absorption-3/

        Toxins in Raw Mushrooms?
        Agaratine, a natural toxin found in mushrooms, is destroyed by cooking.
        http://nutritionfacts.org/video/toxins-in-raw-mushrooms/

        Raw Food Diet Myths
        Some nutrients are destroyed by cooking but some nutrients become more absorbable.
        http://nutritionfacts.org/video/raw-food-diet-myths/

        Raw is healthy no doubt, but so is cooked. It’s not just what we eat; it’s also what we absorb.

    • Graham

      Yes, rheumatoid arthritis has an increased risk for lymphoma due to chronic stimulation of the lymphocytes. Not aware of any increased risk for breast or other cancers from the disease itself.

  • thissal

    I’ll bet the answer has something to do with eating foods with a high inflammation factor. Here’s a comprehensive database for that:

    http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3163/2

    • thissal

      Another great video!

    • Anie

      Love that site! great info and cool ways of presenting it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/linda.vixie Linda Masden Vixie

    Would the cervical cancer cell be a HeLa cell? I just read the (amazing) book about Henrietta Lacks.

    • Darryl

      Cancer results from damage to a number of genes that inhibit proliferation, plus environmental/nutritional stimulus to cell proliferation, The set of genes affected, and how they are damaged, can be different in every cell line. HeLa is one of many potential tumor cell lines (clones of an original tumor cell) that combined Ms. Lack’s genetics, the developmental cell differentiation to initially become a cervical cell, and a set of gene mutations / activations that made the line both particularly malignant to Ms. Lacks, and easy to culture in vitro for research. But not every cervical cancer cell will share the same set of genetic switches that occurred in HeLa, and none would share Ms. Lacks own genetic template.

  • Bruno

    Fascinating, I love this approach.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=670735069 Tan Truong

    01:00, Makes me cry tears of joy, *sniff*.

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