Cancer Basics

Question 1

Two main reasons tumour cells are not recognised by immune cells

Answer 1

failure to express HLA and similar molecules (B7)

secrete immunosuppresive cytokines

Question 2

What cancer is ipilimumab used against?

Answer 2

Melanoma

Question 3

How does ipilimumab work?

Answer 3

Works against inhibitory cytokine (CTLA4, cytotoxic t lymphocyte-associated antigen)

Question 4

Important cytokines for stimulating angiogenesis?

Answer 4

basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)
angiopoietin 2
vascular endthelial groth factor (VEGF)

Question 5

How can immunotherapy target angiogenesis to reduce cancer progression?

Answer 5

anti- VEGF monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab)

target post-receptor responses (tyrosine kinase inhibitors)

Question 6

What factors alter to allow carcinoma to invade locally

Answer 6

Change in Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAM)

Change in proteolysis activators

Question 7

What does “CAMs” stand for in cancer?

Answer 7

Cell adhesion molecules

Question 8

What cell adhesion molecule is commonly expressed/ mutated in cancer?

Answer 8

E Cadherin

Question 9

What proteolysis activators are commonly altered in cancer?

Answer 9

matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)

Question 10

What does “MMPs” stand for in cancer?

Answer 10

matrix metalloproteinases

Question 11

What altered facto encourage haematinic/ lymphatic spread of carcinomas?

Answer 11

altered expression of receptos/ cytokines on tumours/ stromal tissues (TNF and IL-6)