Tumor Immunology Flashcards
What mediates tumor rejection?
T-cells
What are two examples of tissue specific antigens which are expressed in abnormal amounts in tumors?
Her 2 neu/EGF receptor in breast, and PSA in prostate
What antigen is seen in colorectal tumor metastases but not seen in normal tissue outside the colon?
Guanylyl cyclase C
Three oncofetal antigens that are abnormally expressed in tumors and what tumors expresses each
Carcinoembryonic Antigen (colon), MAGE (melanoma), Alpha fetoprotein (hepatoma, testicular cancer)
Three examples of mutant cellular products which are indicative of cancer
Mutant RAS, BCR-ABL, Mutant EGF receptor
Four types of antigen expression abnormalities that we use to target tumor cells
Tissue-specific antigens, Oncofetal antigens, Mutant cellular products, Viral antigens
B-cell lymphoma (EBV) and hepatocellular carinoma (HBV) are common in all types of immunodeficient patients. For primary, secondary (drug induced) and AIDS pts respectively, what other cancers are common?
Primary - also Hematological malignancies, Secondary - also Squamous cell carcinoma (skin) and cervical carcinoma, AIDS - also cloacogenic or oral carcinoma
What inflammatory autoimmune diseases are associated with cancer development?
Hashimotos thyroiditis, also IBS with colon cancer
Why might chronic inflammation be associated with tumor growth?
Cytokines and chemokines produced in chronic inflammation such as TGF-B, IL-8, MCP, and PDGF can suppress the immune system
Three types of tumor vaccines
Cell-based vaccines, denedritic cell vaccines, antigen-specific vaccines
Cell-based tumor vaccine
Remove tumor from patient and reengineer them to express danger signals such as cytokines (eg GM-CSF) and costimulatory molecules (B-7). When returned to pt the hope is to create a generalized immune response which will target all tumor cells
Dendritic Cell Vaccines
Removing DCs from body and loading them with tumor antigens and reinfusing. Eg loading DCs with prostatic acid phosphatase in case of prostate cancer
Antigen-specific vaccine
Taking a tumor specific antigen and using a virus as a vaccine to innoculate against it
An example of a live bacterial vaccine for cancer
Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), a vaccine against Tb is also given for bladder cancer
What kind of autoimmunity is involved in rheumatic fever?
Molecular mimicry
