Adaptive immunity (adaptive immune system)
By
Cancer Council NSW
Adaptive immunity is the body’s specialised defence system that targets harmful foreign substances, such as bacteria, viruses and cancer cells. It is often called specific immunity, as it produces a targeted response towards specific threats.
This system takes longer to respond than our non-specific immunity (innate immunity) but provides long-lasting protection against specific threats. Adaptive immunity is usually stimulated by innate immunity.
Tumour cells can manipulate our immune system to promote the growth and development of cancer.
More like this