The Emerging Role of B Cells in Tumor Immunity

There is increasing evidence supporting a role for B cells in tumor immunology. Paraneoplastic syndromes occurring before a cancer diagnosis have pointed to the potential for harnessing the humoral immune response for early cancer detection. The presence of tumor-infiltrating B lymphocytes has been linked to a favorable clinical outcome in many types of cancers. However, B cells represent a heterogeneous population with functionally distinct subsets, and the balance among subtypes impacts tumor development. Here, we review recent findings related to B cells and to the humoral immune response in cancer and their translational significance. Cancer Res; 76(19); 5597-601. ©2016 AACR.