Lecture 32: Cancer Flashcards
t/f cancer is known as the “emperor of all maladies”
t
Cancers derive from alterations in “self” cells that enable _____
autonomous proliferation
immune mechanisms contribute to both tumour ____ and _____
growth and control
what type of therapies try to support immune-mediated tumour growth?
tmmunotherapies
what are the 2 steps of tumour growth and metastasis?
- cell acquires DNA mutation(s) that cause excessive growth
- Tumour growth outpaces neighbouring cells
- tumor cells invade tissues and may impact function (considered malignant)
- tumour cells leave the primary site and seed in distal locations
tumour accumulate _____ mutations that enable autonomous growth
genetic
what are the 3 types of genes that underlie cancer?
- Proto-oncogenes
- Tumour suppressor genes
- cell death regulators
what are proto-oncogenes?
proteins that induce cell proliferation
if proto-oncogenes are present, the cancer is associated with ____ of function
gain
what is the role of tumour suppressor genes
restrict cell proliferation
if tumour-suppressor genes are present, the cancer is associated with ____ of function
loss
what is the function of cancer death regulators?
gain or loss of function impacts cancer growth (cells should be induced to die if they have irreparable DNA damage)
t/f some cancers have viral origins
t
what is the general mechanism of viral origin cancers?
generally associated with insertion and disruption of DNA leading to pro-proliferative features
t/f some viral cancers can be prevented by vaccination
t (ex; HPV)
development of cancer represents an accumulation of unrepaired _____, often occurred over time
DNA mutations
people with increased cancer risk may have an inborn error in one/more _____
oncogenes/tumour suppressors
_____ and _____ mechanisms eliminate most potentially cancerous cells before they cause problems
immunologic and non-immunologic
what are the 3 methods of immunoediting?
- elimination
- equillibrium
- esca[e
what is elimination by immunoediting?
cells that have been damaged exhibit characteristics of “stress” that enable detection and control by immune cells (immunosurveillance)
explain the equilibrium method of immunoediting
tumour cells have co-evolved with immune function; they co-exist
explain the escape method of immunoediting
tumour establishes conditions that enable growth despite the immune pressure
tumour cells are “self” so why cant lymphocytes detect them well?
most self-reactive lymphocytes are negatively selected in the thymus
what are two type of antigens that help lymphocytes recognize cancer cells?
- tumour-associated antigens
2. tumour-specific antigens
what are tumour-associated antigens?
self proteins that are either not selected against, or inappropriately expressed (wrong tissue, wrong time, over expressed)
what are tumor-specific antigens?
non-“self” proteins/peptides that arise from oncogenic virus infection or mutations that create new epitopes
lymphocytes may recognize tumour-associated/specific antigens and mount what type of immune response?
adaptive anti-tumour response