Tumor Immunity

Question 1

What was more likely to happen to mice missing INF-gamma or recombinase genes (for B and T cells) than in mice not missing these genes, when carcinogens were painted on the skin of both types of mice?

Answer 1

The mice lacking those immune system genes had a greater frequency of tumor induction

Question 2

What is the name for the process by which tumor cells escape initial immune surveillance in the body?

Answer 2

Tumor immunoediting

Question 3

What cell is the most important in elimination of a tumor cell?

Answer 3

CD8 cytotoxic T cells

Question 4

If a tumor cell is not an APC (antigen-presenting cell), then what happens when a CD8 T cell sees the tumor antigen [without a costimulatory molecule]?

Answer 4

Leads to tolerance of the tumor cell

Question 5

What term describes the process by which tumor cells endocytose their surface antigens in order to prevent being detected by antibodies of the immune system?

Answer 5

Downmodulation or antigen modulation

Question 6

One example of general inflammation being used to treat cancer today is the use of adjuvant BCG (a tuberculosis vaccine) to eliminate what kind of cancer?

Answer 6

Bladder cancer

Question 7

Besides tolerance induction and antigen modulation, what are 3 ways that tumors avoid immune recognition?

Answer 7

Low immunogenicity, immunosuppression factors, or physical barriers

Question 8

Herceptin is an example of an antibody that is used to attack what receptor in what kind of cancer?

Answer 8

HER2, breast cancer

Question 9

Cetuximab is an example of an antibody that is used to attack what receptor in what kind of cancer?

Answer 9

EGFR, colon cancer

Question 10

Ibitromab is an example of an antibody that is used to attack what receptor in what kind of cancer?

Answer 10

CD20, B cell lymphoma

Question 11

Increasing which kind of CD4 helper cell would allow a greater T-cell response against tumor cells?

Answer 11

Increase TH1 by inhibiting TH2’s counter-response

Question 12

Does CTLA4 promote or inhibit a T-cell response against tumor cells?

Answer 12

CTLA4 inhibits T-cells. Want to inhibit CTLA4 to increase T-cell response.

Question 13

Name 2 ways that tumor cells themselves could potentially be modified in order to induce a better immune response against them.

Answer 13

Add co-stimulatory (B7) molecules to the tumor cells, or make the tumor cell produce cytokines

Question 14

What is the name for the process (still being researched) by which T-cells may be created ex-vivo, engineered to directly attack tumor cells, and then injected back into the patient?

Answer 14

Adoptive Cellular Therapy (ACT)

Question 15

What is the name given to the engineered T-cell receptors that are grafted onto a patient’s T-cells for adoptive cellular therapy?

Answer 15

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)