Scientists have found the body protects itself from cancer in the same way it responds to allergies.
According to the new research - which could lead to more effective cancer treatments - the body's surveillance system for damage caused by cancer and its response to allergic reactions share a common pathway.
Researchers from Cancer Research UK and King's College London looked at the effect of potential causes of cancer such as tobacco smoke and ultraviolet light on the skin cells of mice.
They unexpectedly discovered that the damage these threats cause to the cells lining the body triggers part of the body's defence system and floods it with antibodies usually linked to an allergic response.
This reaction helps the immune system respond to developing tumours on the surface and protect the rest of the body.
Study author Dr Jessica Strid, from King's College London, said: "The body uses many different pathways to deal with threats and damage and we only understand how they work individually.
"Our study offers a fresh perspective on how the body regulates it's response to carcinogens, using the allergic response to remove them before they spread to the rest of the body."
Dr Julie Sharp, senior science information manager at Cancer Research UK, added: "Understanding how this works could pave the way to more effective treatments that use the body's immune system to track down and destroy cancer cells."