The autoimmune disease and cancer connection

Previously, we learned that the immune system serves to differentiate “healthy” self cells from unhealthy “self cells” like cancer or infected cells in the body. This is part of the gift of autoimmunity!

Autoimmune research not only implies research on malfunctioning autoimmunity (aka autoimmune diseases), but it also requires exploring the role it performs in “self protection.”

This has huge implications for infectious diseases and cancer research!  

This is why it is so important for autoimmune disease research to aim to understand and cooperate with autoimmunity, and not simply suppress autoimmunity to fight autoimmune diseases.

Why a breakthrough in cancer research may be found in autoimmune disease research and visa versa

It’s all about the pre-emptive strike.  If we can understand the root causes of autoimmune diseases, this may uncover answers to questions about cancer causes. Why?

Cancers and autoimmune diseases are two “self” destructive sides of the same deadly coin. Both are “self-destructive” diseases.

Donors of cancer research are missing opportunities by focusing only on cancer nonprofit organisations

It’s tempting to throw all our resources at cancer research and cancer fundraising. Afterall cancer kills more people worldwide than any other disease.

But some researchers believe the medical science industry has been putting the cart before the horse by focusing on cancer when, in reality, cancer and autoimmune diseases are deeply connected with mechanisms that are activated in both cases.  The immune response to cancer and the immune responses to tissues in the bodies of patients with autoimmune diseases are pieces of the same larger puzzle of immunity. (see diagram above).

Unfortunately, autoimmune disease research is needlessly competing with cancer research for dollars.

And cancer is winning. Cancer awareness is leaps and bounds ahead of autoimmune disease awareness, even though a higher percentage of the population is suffering from autoimmune diseases.

Praespero's community of scientists believe both diseases are mechanistically related and therefore need to be equally understood and studied in parallel.

We believe that exploring the deep, untapped recesses of the immunome will unearth the root causes of both autoimmune diseases and cancers... before they surface.          

And we're on the road to transforming those findings into cures.

But we need your support! Learn more.