Tumor Immunology Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is cancer?
Uncontrolled cell growth caused by damaged genes due to chemicals, radiation or infectious agents
How does cancer start?
- Accumulation of mutations
- Uncontrolled division
- Tumor formation
What are the six hallmarks of cancer?
- Sustained proliferation
- Evading growth suppressors
- Resisting cell death
- Inducing angiogenesis
- Activating invasion
- Immune evasion
Do tumors contain foreign antigens?
Often have:
- Mutated self proteins
- Viral antigens
- Over expressed proteins
What are the five types of tumor antigens that exist?
- Mutated self proteins
- Viral antigens
- Cancer germline/testis antigens
- Differentiation antigens
- Over expressed antigens
What makes cancer germline antigens unique?
Only expressed in germline tissues and cancers
What seven immune cells respond to tumors?
- T cells
- NK cells
- B cells
- Macrophages
- DCs
- Neutrophils
- Eosinophils
What supports the theory of immunosurveillance?
- Increased cancers in immunodeficient hosts
- Mice lacking specific immune cells show higher cancer rates
What is cancer immunoediting?
The dynamic relationship between tumors and immunity
What three things does cancer immunoediting consist of?
- Elimination immune destruction of tumor
- Equilibrium dormant phase from immune containment
- Escape immune resistant tumor variants grow
What do CD8+ T cells use to kill tumors?
Perforin and granzyme
What are four ways tumors evade immunity?
- Antigen loss variants
- MHC class I loss
- Secrete immuno suppressive cytokines
- Express immune checkpoints
How are two ways tumors suppress immune cells?
- Recruit regulatory cells
- Alter T cell metabolism
What are the five main types of cancer immunotherapy?
- Adoptive cell therapy
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Cancer vaccines
- Oncolytic viruses
What are immune checkpoints?
Molecules that inhibit T cell activation to limit damage
What is checkpoint blockade therapy?
Use of antibodies to block blockade molecules allowing T cells to attack the tumor
What percentage of cancers are virus linked?
20%
