Tumor Immunology

Question 1

1. State the concept of the Immune Surveillance theory. Discuss whether data from immunosuppressed and immunodeficient patients support the theory.

Answer 1

Adaptive immune response evolved not so much for dealing with foreign substances, but as a way of detecting changes in the body’s own cell surfaces.

Supporting evidence:

1. Immunocompromised pts (esp T cell deficient) have higher incidence of tumors
2. Ts that recognize tumors have been identified in tumor tissue
3. Small % of tumors spontaneously regress

Question 2

Describe the concept of immunoediting.

Answer 2

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Question 3

3. Describe tumor-associated antigens (TAA), and compare and contrast TAA from viral, mutant, and normal gene products.

Answer 3

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Question 4

4. Define carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and discuss its usefulness in screening for, diagnosis, and follow-up of colon cancer.

Answer 4

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Question 5

5. Compare and contrast the roles of CTL and NK cells in killing tumors cells, with special reference to the amount of MHC Class I expressed by the tumor.

Answer 5

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Question 6

6. Describe the nature and therapeutic use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, TIL, in adoptive cellular transfer therapy.

Answer 6

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Question 7

7. Summarize the Hellstrom experiments using cells from tumor- bearing and cured patients to kill tumor target cells. Indicate which patients had blocking factors. Discuss the possible nature of blocking factors.

Answer 7

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Question 8

8. Discuss the principles underlying antibody or T cell methods that might be used as treatments of tumors.

Answer 8

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Question 9

9. Describe a mechanism by which BCG treatment causes tumor regression.

Answer 9

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Question 10

10. Discuss prospects and problems concerning the use of monoclonal antibodies in the diagnosis or treatment of cancer.

Answer 10

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Question 11

11. Describe the nature and therapeutic use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, TIL, in adoptive cellular transfer therapy.

Answer 11

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