VMED 5172 - Immunotherapy

Immunotherapies are specific and only target cancer cells, unlike in chemotherapy

What is the main advantage of immunotherapy over chemotherapy?

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapies, monoclonal antibodies, cytokine therapies, and oncolytic viruses

The main types of immunotherapies include...

The paratope

Which portion of an antibody is changed to target a specific antigen?

Antagonism, signaling, complement, and ADCC (via Fc receptors)

Through which mechanisms can monoclonal antibodies work?

Prevents uncontrolled T cell proliferation and action

What does CTLA-4 achieve in the normal immune system?

CTLA-4 and PD-1

Which T cell checkpoints are typically blocked in cancer therapy?

Activation of T cells, depletion of humoral Treg, and immunological memory

What effects does CTLA-4 blockage have on the immune system?

CTLA-4 and Fc

The treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is a combination of?

Results in exhaustion of activated T cells

What does PD-1 achieve in the normal immune response?

PD-L1

What molecule do tumor cells typically express to bypass immune checkpoints?

Chimeric antigen receptors

____ can be placed on the surface of a patient's T cells in order to recognize tumor cells as foreign

An antibody's antigen specificity as well as signal transduction ability of TCRs

CARs combine what characteristics of the immune system?

The specific antigen or tumor in the patient's body

CAR-T cells are engineered based on?

A patient's T cells are isolated from a. blood sample, CARs are inserted onto their T cells, and once they have expanded, they are injected back into the patient

What does CAR-T cell therapy entail?

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)

The non-engineered therapy against cancer is?

Can lead to toxicity in some organs, short half-life, and poor drug stability

What are some of the disadvantages of cytokine therapy?

As an enhancer of other therapies, such as CAR-T cell therapy

How has cytokine therapy been used more recently?

There is no damage or response due to engineered specificity

How do oncolytic viruses react with healthy tissues in the body?

15%

What percentage of transplant patients reject their donor organ?

The immune response can be suppressed via immunocheckpoint inhibitors

How can the chance of a functioning transplant be increased?

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

What immune cells must match as closely as possible to prevent transplant rejection?

Cancer; immunosuppressants used to protect the transplanted organ inhibit the portion of the immune system which recognizes and fights early cancer cells

A leading cause of death in transplant recipients is ___. Why is this?