Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University's Massey Cancer Center studying the interaction between the immune system and cancer cells said their findings might help in the creation of tailored vaccines and other immunotherapeutic strategies to fight a number of cancers.

Immunotherapy involves the manipulation of the immune system to recognize and eradicate tumor cells.

Using a transgenic mouse model of breast cancer, researchers found interferon gamma -- a cytokine or chemical messenger that is produced by cells of the immune system -- plays a role in tumor relapse. In humans, interferon gamma is also produced by white blood cells of the immune system in response to invasion by pathogens or tumors in order to protect the host against infection or cancers.

Production of interferon gamma by lymphocytes against tumors is considered a sign of good prognosis; however, the study's findings indicate that might not be the case.

The research appears in the March issue of the European Journal of Immunology.