Cancer Immunology

Flashcards on Cancer Immunology

TSA (Tumor-Specific Antigen)

An antigen arising from mutations in tumor cells, not present in normal tissues.

Cancer Immunoediting

Consists of three phases: Elimination, Equilibrium, Escape.

AID (Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase)

An enzyme essential for class switching and somatic hypermutation.

PD-1

Inhibits T cell activation upon binding PD-L1, leading to T cell exhaustion.

CAR-T cell therapy

Bypasses MHC restriction by using an antibody-derived scFv that binds directly to surface antigens.

Tregs (Regulatory T cells) and MDSCs (Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells)

Two examples of immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment.

Lymphodepletion before ACT

Removes suppressive cells and creates space for infused T cells.

Tumor escape via MHC

Tumors downregulate MHC Class I expression to avoid CD8+ T cells.

Common side effects of CAR-T therapy

Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity.

Role of CD28 in T cell activation

Provides co-stimulatory signal by binding to B7 on APCs.

Mechanism of action of Trastuzumab

Binds HER2 and induces ADCC and inhibits downstream signaling.

Oncolytic viruses in cancer treatment

Lyse tumor cells and stimulate anti-tumor immune responses.

Neoantigen

A novel peptide resulting from tumor-specific mutations recognized by T cells.

Checkpoint inhibitors

Considered 'immune brakes' because they release the inhibition on T cells allowing them to attack tumors.

Immunosurveillance

The immune system's ability to detect and destroy emerging tumor cells.