Antibodies respond to antigens by latching on to, or binding with, antigens, fitting together much the way a key fits a lock. Immune system cells work against disease, including cancer, in a variety of ways. Lymphocytes, the main type of immune cell, are white blood cells found in the blood as well as in many other parts of the body. Lymphocytes include B cells, T cells, and NK cells. T cells direct and regulate the immune response by signaling other immune system defenders.
T cells produce proteins called lymphokines, which are one type of cytokine.
Cytokines are powerful chemical substances that control a number of cell activities, including the immune response. Renal cell cancer, also called renal adenocarcinoma, or hypernephroma, can often be cured if it is diagnosed and treated when still localized to the kidney and to immediately surrounding tissue. The probability of cure is directly related to the stage or degree of tumor dissemination. Even when regional lymphatics or blood vessels are involved with tumor, a significant number of patients can achieve prolonged survival and probable cure. When distant metastases are present, disease-free survival is poor, although occasional selected patients will survive after surgical resection of all known tumor.