Attack on cancer cell

Working on the TMune business plan I happened on an amazing micrograph (below) showing with great clearity a specialized immune cell, called a macrophage (smaller), devouring a cancer cell (larger).  The many disc shaped cells in the background are red blood cells. 

Malignant cells arise contunually in our bodies.  Some result from mutated genes, others result from viruses or environmental exposure.  It is now clear that our immune system routinely clears these cells.  When our immune system fails we get cancer.  Restoring the immune system when it fails is the goal of TMune and other companies who aim to treat cancer with immunotherapy. 

Photo credit to Dr. Raowf Guirguis' lab at the National Cancer Institute.