Tumor Immunology & Immunotherapy Flashcards

Fill-in-the-blank practice flashcards covering key concepts from Lecture 5: Tumor Immunology & Immunotherapy, including cancer causes, tumor antigens, the tumor microenvironment, immune evasion mechanisms, and modern immunotherapies.

In Canada, cancer is the __________ leading cause of death.

1

According to Canadian Cancer Statistics 2021, __________ in 5 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetime.

2

The overall five-year cancer survival rate in Canada is __________.

64%

Unlike malignant tumors, __________ tumors are non-cancerous, localized, and contained.

benign

The immune system detects abnormal surface antigens on transformed cells through a process called immune __________.

surveillance

During initial immune surveillance against cancer, __________ are NOT effective.

B cells

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in soot and tar are linked to lung, skin, and __________ cancer.

bladder

Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes DNA damage leading to skin cancers such as __________.

melanoma

The oncogenic DNA virus linked to cervical cancer is __________.

HPV

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is an oncogenic DNA virus associated with __________ lymphoma.

Burkitt's

The oncogenic RNA virus HTLV-1 is linked to adult __________ leukemia.

T-cell

Cancer-testis antigens are a type of tumor antigen found specifically in __________ tissues.

reproductive

Antigens found on non-tumor cells that trigger immune responses in graft-versus-host settings are called __________.

allo-antigens

Unlike Tumor-Associated Antigens (TAAs), Tumor-Specific Antigens (TSAs) are __________ found in normal tissue.

NOT

Natural Killer (NK) cells recognize and target tumor cells with reduced MHC class __________ expression.

I

B cells produce tumor-specific antibodies that mark cancer cells for destruction by macrophages and NK cells via __________.

Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC)

In the tumor microenvironment, normal fibroblasts are converted into __________ to support tumor growth.

CAFs

In the TME, abnormal blood vessel growth during angiogenesis is driven by __________.

VEGF

In the TME, effector T cells ($T_{EFF}$) lose their functionality and become __________ T cells.

exhausted

In tumor-associated myeloid responses, __________ macrophages promote tumor growth and immune evasion, while M1 macrophages are anti-tumor.

M2

Dendritic cell subtypes known as __________ increase in the TME and contribute to suppressing immune responses.

cDC2

NK cell cytotoxicity in the TME is suppressed by molecules such as TGF-$\beta$ and __________.

IL-10

B cells mature and interact with $T_{FH}$ cells inside temporary immune structures in the TME called __________ Lymphoid Structures.

Tertiary

According to the tumor evasion wheel, tumors avoid uniform immune targeting by utilizing genetic __________.

heterogeneity

Vaccines that utilize dendritic cells loaded with tumor antigens belong to the category of __________ cancer vaccines.

Cell-based

Adoptive CAR T-cell therapy is currently effective primarily for __________ cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma.

blood

CAR-T cells induce tumor cell apoptosis or necrosis by releasing perforin and __________.

granzyme

Compared to CAR-T cells, CAR-M cells perform phagocytosis and are __________ likely to get exhausted in the TME.

less

Immune checkpoint inhibitors restore T-cell killing capability by blocking the interaction between PD-1 and __________.

PD-L1

In bispecific antibody therapy (BiTE), Blinatumomab directs T cells to leukemic cells by simultaneously binding CD3 and __________.

CD19