Tumour Immunity Flashcards
What is cancer?
Damaged cells that don’t undergo programmed cell death
What is a tumour?
A swelling or lesion formed by abnormal growth of cells
What is an oncogene?
Protein encoding genes which if deregulated trigger onset of cancer
What can cause cancer?
Tumour suppressor genes become deregulated, carcinogens, age, genetic susceptibility, immune deficiency, environment
What is the name of a tumour in the epithelium, haematopoietic?
Epithelium- carcinoma
Haematopoteitc- leukaemias
How can tumours be detected?
By abnormal antigens- neoantigens
What different antigens can be presented?
Tissue specific- one normal and cancerous
Reactivated gene products
Viral antigens
Mutated gene products
How can inflammation promote tumour formation?
Influx of cells can allow other cells to leave and cause secondary tumours
What major 3 cell types are involved in tumour immunity?
Cytotoxic T cells
Macrophage
Natural killer cells
How are NK cells a back up for tumour immunity?
Successful immune surveillance activates CD4 then CD8 cells, and recognise MHC complex, but the tumour may be immune to CD8 T cell programmed death
Therefore B cell can produce specific antigens on surface specific antibodies and cause ADCC
NK responds to antigens on surface of cancer cells and attack cancer cells
How can tumours induce immunosuppression?
Tumour associated macrophages- allow maintenance and growth
Immunoregulatory T-cells- induction of IL-10 blocks T cell activity
If cancer part of immune system- bone marrow
What are the different approaches to immunotherapy for tumours?
Non-specific immune stimulation- cytokines
Passive immunisation- anti-tumour antibodies
Active immunisation- modified tumour cells
Monoclonal antibodies
