When most people think about cancer, they focus on the tumor itself. But recent research reveals something equally important: cancer doesn't just attack your body, it fundamentally weakens the very immune system designed to protect you.
A groundbreaking study examining over 1,375 cancer patients compared to healthy individuals has uncovered exactly how and why this happens, and the findings make a compelling case for preserving your immune cells while they're still strong.
Your immune system is like an army with different specialized units. You have T cells that hunt down threats, B cells that produce antibodies, and natural killer (NK) cells that destroy compromised cells. In healthy people, these cells exist in optimal numbers and function at peak performance. Think of them as elite soldiers, well trained and ready for battle. But when cancer enters the picture, everything changes.
The research found something striking: cancer patients showed dramatically reduced numbers of nearly every type of immune cell compared to healthy individuals. Their T cells, B cells, and NK cells were all significantly depleted. But it gets worse. As cancer advances through different stages, these immune cell numbers drop even further. Early stage cancer patients had more immune cells than those with advanced disease. It's as if cancer progressively dismantles your immune defense system, leaving you increasingly vulnerable.
The researchers didn't just count immune cells, they looked at their quality and activation status by measuring PD-1, a marker that indicates how well T cells can respond to threats. Cancer patients had significantly lower percentages of PD-1 positive cells compared to healthy people. This suggests their immune cells weren't just fewer in number, they were also less able to mount an effective response. It's like having fewer soldiers who are also less prepared for battle.
Even more concerning, the percentage of PD-1 expression increased as tumors progressed to more advanced stages. This tells us that cancer creates an environment where immune cells become progressively exhausted and dysfunctional.
Modern cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment. Therapies like CAR-T cell treatment and checkpoint inhibitors work by using your own immune cells to fight cancer. But here's the catch: these treatments work best when they start with healthy, high quality immune cells.
If cancer has already weakened your immune system, or if chemotherapy has damaged your cells, these advanced therapies have less to work with. It's like trying to rebuild an army using soldiers who are already exhausted and depleted. The research showed that certain cancers, including head and neck, pancreatic, gynecological, and lung cancers, showed particularly high levels of immune dysfunction.
This research makes one thing crystal clear: there's a critical window of opportunity to preserve your immune cells when they're at their strongest, before cancer or its treatments compromise them.
Once cancer develops, your options become limited. The cells you could have preserved are now depleted in number, exhausted in function, or damaged by the very treatments meant to save you. Chemotherapy, radiation, and the disease itself all take their toll.
At Immunaeon, we recognize this critical window. We collect and cryogenically store your immune cells while they're at their healthiest and most robust. This isn't about speculation or possibility. It's about giving you access to your own powerful, uncompromised immune cells if you ever face cancer or need advanced immunotherapy.
The patients in this study would have given anything to go back in time and preserve their immune cells before cancer struck. You have that opportunity right now. Your immune system is your body's most sophisticated defense mechanism. Don't wait until it's compromised to recognize its value. The cells you preserve today could be the difference in your treatment options tomorrow.
Fu, X., Qin, P., Li, F. et al. The inter-link of ageing, cancer and immunity: findings from real-world retrospective study. Immun Ageing 20, 75 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12979-023-00399-9