Tumor Immunology

Question 1

tumor specific antigens

Answer 1

unique to tumor cells and do not occur on normal cells

Question 2

tumor associated antigens

Answer 2

tumor antigens are expressed on subset of normal cells

Question 3

cancer immuno-editing

Answer 3

elimination –> equilibrium –> escape

Question 4

elimination

Answer 4

immune cells recognize and destroy altered cells

Question 5

equilibrium

Answer 5

immune control of tumor growth is counteracted by continued genetic instability of the tumor

Question 6

escape

Answer 6

immunologically “sculpted” tumor expands uncontrollably

Question 7

What sculpts the immunogenicity of the tumor?

Answer 7

adaptive immune response - IL-12, IFN-gamma, CD4, CD8

Question 8

equilibrium phase requires _

Answer 8

adaptive immune response

Question 9

mechanism of tumor cell evasion of immune surveillance

Answer 9

low immunogenicity, tumor treated as self antigen, tumor-induced immune suppression, others

Question 10

low immunogenicity

Answer 10

if antigen is not presented or accessory molecules are not appropriately expressed, then the tumor cell will not be immunogenic

Question 11

tumor treated as self antigen

Answer 11

if tumor antigens are presented in absence of co-stim molecules, then T cells can become tolerized to antigen

Question 12

tumor-induced immune suppression

Answer 12

secretion of TGF-beta and IL-10 by tumors or expression of PD-L1

Question 13

loss of responsiveness to IFN-gamma

Answer 13

decreased antigen presentation on tumor cell

Question 14

shedding of stress response proteins MICA/MICB

Answer 14

important for initial recognition by NK cells

Question 15

loss of antigen expression

Answer 15

mutation results in loss of immunogenic epitope

Question 16

tumor-induced privilege site

Answer 16

factors secreted by tumor create a physical barrier to immune system

Question 17

checkpoint inhibitor therapy

Answer 17

antibodies to PD-L1, PD-1, and CTLA-4 to prevent immune suprresion