Cancerous Pillows

Don't be like Nuclear Waste!

T lymphocytes and cancer cell. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of T lymphocyte cells (pink) attached to a cancer cell. T lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that recognise a specific site (antigen) on the surface of cancer cells or pathogens and bind to it. Some T lymphocytes then signal for other immune system cells to eliminate the cell. The genetic changes that cause a cell to become cancerous lead to the presentation of tumour antigens on the cell's surface. Magnification: x2300 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

Illustration showing two types of T-cells (green and purple spheres) binding to a cluster of three cancer cells (centre, red and grey spheres). T cells, or T lymphocytes, are components of the body's immune system. T cell receptors recognise and bind to peptides (chain of spheres) presented by class I MHC (major histocompatibility complex) molecules on the surface of the cancer cell. This activates the T cell, which releases lytic granules that penetrate and kill the cancer cell.

T cell attacking cancer cell. 3D computer illustration of a T lymphocyte white blood cell (white) destroying a cancerous cell (blue). T lymphocytes, or T cells, are a type of white blood cell and a component of the body's immune system. They recognise a specific site on the surface of a pathogen or foreign object (antigen), bind to it, and attract antibodies or cells to eliminate it.

T lymphocyte and prostate cancer cell. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a T lymphocyte cell (yellow) attached to a prostate cancer cell. T lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that recognise a specific site (antigen) on the surface of cancer cells or pathogens and bind to it. Some T lymphocytes then signal for other immune system cells to eliminate the cell. The genetic changes that cause a cell to become cancerous lead to the presentation of tumour antigens on the cell's surface. Magnification: x3500 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

Plasmacytoma. Light micrograph (LM) of a section from a nasal plasmocytoma. Plasmacytoma (purple tissue) of the head and neck region is a rare malignant tumour comprising approximately 3% of all plasma cell tumours. Approximately 80-90% of extramedullary (outside the bone marrow) plasmacytomas involve the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the upper airways, 75% of these involve the nasal and paranasal regions. Radiotherapy generally provides excellent local and often durable control of the plasmacytoma. However, there is a risk that plasmacytomas may recur or progress to myeloma. Magnification: x80 when printed at 10 centimetres wide. Human tissue.

T cells attacking cancer cells. 3D computer illustration of T lymphocyte white blood cells (white) destroying cancerous cells (blue/purple). T lymphocytes, or T cells, are a type of white blood cell and a component of the body's immune system. They recognise a specific site on the surface of a pathogen or foreign object (antigen), bind to it, and attract antibodies or cells to eliminate it.