Overview of the Immune System in Thyroid Cancers

Cancer is one of the most complex challenges because tumor cells can evade the host immune system and adapt to different conditions. The present review aims to explore the immune system and how different immune cells and mediators contribute to the development and progression of thyroid cancer.

Data were collected and summarized from research on the immunology of thyroid cancer and immune responses that play a crucial role in cancer development and may help diagnose malignant tumors. The data were collected from the Scientific Information Database (SID), Magiran, PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Articles were reviewed without a time limit, and finally, 99 articles that were most relevant to the goals of this study were selected.

The molecular patterns of cytokines and chemokines play a key role in explaining the immune system’s role in tumor initiation and progression. Different cells are also filtered into the thyroid tumor, and the balance between their antitumor and tumor-stimulating activity may be involved in the prognosis of cancer.

The cells and mediators of the immune system in the microenvironment surrounding the tumor play a crucial role in the development and progression of malignancy. Accurate knowledge of the tumor microenvironment and its effective elements can help determine patients’ clinical condition and treat thyroid cancer.