Lecture 26; Tumor Immunology Flashcards
1
Q
Why are cancers able to grow?
A
Theyre able to grow because they can evade the immune system
2
Q
What does the immune system do to cancer?
A
Immune surveillance keeps tumour growth in check by destruction of pre-malignant and malignant cells
3
Q
Who are at an increased risk of developing cancer and why?
A
Hosts who are immune suppressed are at increased risk of tumour development
- HIV infected
- Elderly
- Immunosuppressive medication
4
Q
What is the major contributor to cancer immune evasion?
A
Genomic instability
There are about 10,000 mutations per cell ie tumours “change their spots” to evade the host immune system.
5
Q
How do Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin lymphoma avoid immune attack?
A
Gal-1 is a lectin that binds 1,4 carbohydrate on T cell
Gal-1 induces TH2 cytokine production
and T regs
Potential therapetutic target
