Immunotherapy and Cancer Treatment

Flashcards focusing on key vocabulary and concepts related to cancer immunotherapy.

Bispecific T-cell engaging antibodies

Antibodies with two different antigen binding domains; one binds to a tumor antigen and the other to CD3ε to activate cytotoxic T-cells.

Immunological synapse

The interface formed between an activated T-cell and an antigen-presenting cell, facilitating T-cell activation.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)

A synthetic receptor that can be engineered to redirect T-cells to recognize and attack tumor cells expressing specific antigens.

Armoured CARs

CAR-T cells engineered to produce additional molecules that enhance their function, such as stimulating the tumor immune microenvironment.

Cytokine release syndrome

A side effect of T-cell activation in immunotherapy, characterized by widespread T-cell activation leading to an immune overreaction.

Immune checkpoint proteins

T-cell surface receptors that inhibit T-cell activity, playing a role in maintaining immune system homeostasis and tumor evasion.

PD-1/PD-L1 interaction

A mechanism that inhibits T-cell activation; blocking this interaction promotes T-cell activation and tumor cell killing.

CTLA-4

An immune checkpoint target for monoclonal antibodies like Ipilimumab, which inhibits T-cell activation.

Immunotherapy resistance

Resistance to immunotherapy can be primary (therapy never works) or secondary (therapy stops working after a time).

Antigen-targeted, T-cell based immunotherapy

A type of immunotherapy that includes bispecific antibodies and CAR-T cells designed to target specific tumor antigens.