Guest speaker – studying T cell localization in solid tumors Flashcards
What is the cancer immunity cycle?
A process that does not perform optimally in cancer patients due to various factors.
Key factors include tumor antigen detection, T cell responses, and infiltration issues.
What characterizes an immune desert tumor?
Lack of tumor antigen, inadequate priming, defects in antigen presentation, lack of T cell attracting chemokines.
This type is also referred to as a cold tumor.
What is an immune excluded tumor?
Characterized by immune evasion due to stromal barriers, lack of chemokines, aberrant vasculature, and hypoxia.
What defines an immune inflamed tumor?
High degree of T cell infiltration.
This type is also referred to as a hot tumor.
What is the role of stroma in tissues?
Supports and gives structure to organs, provides nutrients, and removes waste and extra fluid.
What are fibroblasts?
Most common cells in connective tissue, principal source of extracellular matrix, synthesize collagen and elastin.
Fill in the blank: __________ are capable of enhancing T cell-tumor cell interactions through fiber alteration.
Fibroblasts
How do cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) differ from normal fibroblasts?
CAFs have enhanced proliferative, migratory, and secretory properties, are more metabolically active, and produce abnormal collagen.
They can be found in circulation, similar to circulating tumor cells.
What is one role of CAFs in tumor immunity?
Restrict recruitment of immune effector cells such as CD8+ T cells into tumor tissues.
What is the significance of CXCL13 secreted by CAFs?
Enhances recruitment of B cells.
True or False: CAF abundance is associated with better prognosis in cancer patients.
False
What happens when FAP+CAF is depleted?
Induces T cell-mediated tumor regression.
What is the leading cause of cancer death in Canada?
Lung and bronchus cancer.
What is the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)?
Adenocarcinoma.
What are the characteristics of 2D cell culture?
Cell-to-cell contact on edges, mostly contacts plastic, unable to establish a microenvironment.
What are the advantages of 3D cell culture?
Physiologic cell-to-cell contact, interaction with ECM, gradients of oxygen/nutrients/drugs.
What is the purpose of generating a new 3D spheroid system?
To test the effect of CAF-specific genes on T cell infiltration and tumor lysis.
What are the three major subtypes of CAFs identified through single-cell analysis?
- Myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs)
- Inflammatory CAFs (iCAF)
- Antigen-presenting CAF (apCAF)
What is the role of antigen-presenting CAFs (apCAF)?
Express MHC class II related genes.
What is necessary to stimulate anti-tumor immunity in relation to CAFs?
Specifically target CAF immunosuppressive functions.
