Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy

Question 1

Know the interactions between cancer and the cells of the bodies immune system

Answer 1

Innate:

• macrophage mediated immunity (INF-gamma): phagocytosis, APC, activated by INF-gamma, phagosomes cells, nonspecific activation by BCG
• inflammation cascade
• complement cascade
• NK cells/NKTcells: use of perforins and granzymes to punch into tissue and destroy it, based on lack of MHC I receptors

Adaptive:
-B/T cells; ADCC

Question 2

Be able to identify causes where stimulating the immune system may be beneficial to survival.

Answer 2

Sarcomas-> found that infection/inflammation can lead to degradation of the tumor cells

Question 3

Know some treatment methods or tricks used to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer.

Answer 3

Vaccines
Cytokine therapy
Use of plasmids to secrete xenogeneic DNA
Focus on particular antigens that are expressed more on cancerous tissue