Immunoediting describes three phases. Which of the following is NOT one of the phases?

Immunoediting is a crucial concept in immunology that describes how the immune system interacts with tumors, leading to three key phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.

The elimination phase refers to the initial response where the immune system identifies and destroys tumor cells. This phase involves the activation of various immune components, including T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, which work together to target and eliminate cancer cells.

Following elimination, the body may enter the equilibrium phase, where the immune system maintains a state of balance, controlling tumor growth without completely eradicating the remaining cancer cells. This phase can be prolonged and involves the immune system keeping the cancer in check, preventing it from progressing.

The escape phase occurs when the remaining tumor cells manage to evade the immune response, resulting in tumor resurgence. These cells may develop mechanisms to evade detection or inhibit immune activation, ultimately allowing the tumor to grow once more.

The term "escalation" is not part of the immunoediting concept and does not represent any of the processes involved in the interaction between immunity and tumor development. Thus, this option is correctly identified as not being one of the defined phases of immunoediting. Understanding these phases helps elucidate how immune responses can both combat and