Why does the body suppress its own immune response after trauma and surgery — and why might that be a problem in cancer surgery specifically?
Why does the body suppress its own immune response after trauma and surgery — and why might that be a problem in cancer surgery specifically?
Any trauma or surgical intervention triggers the release of anti-inflammatory mediators and cytokines that dampen immune function. At first glance this seems counterproductive — a weaker immune system is a clear liability, particularly with respect to infection. So why has evolution favored this response?
