Tumor Immunity Flashcards
Can proteins expressed by tumors raise a host immune response?
Yes…but the immune response is very weak
Which has a stronger immune response…a response to a mutated tumor antigen or a response to a viral tumor antigen?
Viral tumor antigen
What are 3 examples of DNA viruses that can cause cancer?
HPV, HbV, EBV
What are 3 examples of RNA viruses that can cause cancer?
HTLV-1 and HIV-1 / HHV8
Which is a better candidate for therapy/ prevention…human tumor antigens or viral tumor antigens?
Viral tumor antigens
Since most tumors do not express MHC class II or co-stimulatory proteins how does an immune response get started?
Dendritic cells or other APC present digested tumor antigens
How do tumors escape immunity/ immune surveillance?
Eventually one variant in a tumor may escape the killing mechanism or recruit regulatory cells to protect it and it is able to spread unchallenged
This variant usually has no MHC
Can MHC be added to tumor cells in order to stimulate targeting by the immune system?
Yes, MHC can be transduced with a virus..but it is very difficult to do
What are three ways that we can stimulate a non-specific response to tumor immunity?
Bacterial adjuvants (BCG)
CTLA4 inhibition
PD1-PD1L inhibition
How is BCG useful in bladder cancer?
Infects tumor cells and stimulates inflammation around the bladder cancer to limit growth of tumor cells
This is actually a currently used therapy
KNOW THIS!
What is BCG?
attenuated strain of mycobacterium bovis
How does CTLA4 inhibitors work?
Inhibiting/ blocking CTLA4 allows for the release of nonspecfic immunity to stop tumor growth
What are monoclonal antibodies in immunotherapy directed against?
Mutated human proteins
What are the 2 types/ classes of monoclonal antibodies?
Naked antibodies
Conjugated antibodies
What is a conjugated antibody?
A nonspecific toxin is attached to an antibody
