The immune system may aberrantly silence when against "altered self", which consequently may develop into malignancies. With the development of tumor immunology and molecular biology, the deepened understanding of the relationship between parasites and tumors shifts the attitude towards parasitic pathogens from elimination to utilization. In recent years, the antitumor impact implemented by protozoan parasites and the derived products has been confirmed. The immune system is activated and enhanced by some protozoan parasites, thereby inhibiting tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis in many animal models. In this work, we reviewed the available information on the antitumor effect of parasitic infection or induced by parasitic antigen, as well as the involved immune mechanisms that modulate cancer progression. Despite the fact that clinical trials of the protozoan parasites against tumors are limited and the specific mechanisms of the effect on tumors are not totally clear, the use of genetically modified protozoan parasites and derived molecules combined with chemotherapy could be an important element for promoting antitumor treatment in the future.
Keywords: anti-tumor; biotherapy; immune response; protozoon; tumor microenvironment.