Term
| What are the antigens expressed by tumor cells? What causes them? |
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Definition
-TSTAs and TATAs (tumor specific & associated transplantation antigens)
-TSTA's are caused directly by carcinogens (such as alkylating agents) or by viruses
-TATA's are normally only expressed during embryonic/fetal development
-TATAs are found on normal cells in small amounts, but in increasing amounts on transformed cells
-These are not very diagnostic, but may help in monitoring post-treatment |
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Term
| What are a few oncogenic viruses and diseases they cause? |
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Definition
-Epstein-Barr; B cell lymphomas (Burkitt's), Hodgkin's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma
-HPV; cervical carcinomas
-HTLV; (human) adult T cell leukemia
-Hep B - hepatocellular carcinoma
-Note; these will all cause TSTAs |
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Term
| What are α-fetoproteins diagnostic for? |
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Definition
-In pregnancy, high means neural tube defect, low means Down's syndrome
-In non-pregnant state, it can mean liver, stomach, pancreas, and testicular cancer |
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Term
| What is carcinoembrionic antigen (CEA) diagnostic for? |
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Definition
-COLON, is the big one
-Also, lung, pancreas, & breast
-Can also be from chronic bronchitis & colitis |
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Term
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Definition
-Means melanoma associated antigen (dunno how they got MAGE outta that, but oh well)
-Present in about a third of cases
-Note that this is another TATA |
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Term
| What is the suffix on monoclonal antibodies we have made for cancer treatment? |
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Definition
| -tuzumab, -tumomab, -tuximab, crap like that |
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Term
| What are some cytokines we can infuse into cancer patients, for what conditions? |
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Definition
-TNFs; for advanced cancer
-IFN-α (ups NK); renal carcinomas, hairy cell leukemia, kaposis sarcoma
-IFN-γ; hematopoietic and solid tumors |
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Term
| What is LAK therapy? What about TIL therapy? |
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Definition
Lymphokine activated cells
-We activate patients NK cells with IL-2 and reinfuse them
-Non-specific
Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes
-Here we find specific T cells from a tumor, activate them, and reinfuse them, giving IL-2 maintenance doses
-More specific
-Both rely of IL-2 for stimulation |
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Term
| What is adjuvant therapy and what are some (4) examples? |
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Definition
-They are injected into tumor to provoke cytokine release
-BCG, C. parvum, IFN-γ, muramyl dipeptide |
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Term
| Give an example or two of gene therapy? |
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Definition
-You take tumor cells and T cells out, introduce a gene for B7 into tumor cells, use them to stimulate T cells, then put the T cells back into the patient
-We can also put cytokine genes into tumor cells; and reinfuse them; an example would be GM-CSF which recruits dendritic cells, or IL-2 for T cells
-Can even make dendritic cells express the TSTA and infuse those back into the patient |
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Term
| What are the chromosomes for Burkitt's? |
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Definition
| -8 & 14; c-myc translocated to heavy chain region on 14 |
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Term
| What is a plasma cell neoplasm called (3 examples)? |
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Definition
-Plasmacytoma for single growth
-Multiple myeloma for multiple growths, mostly in bone, causing lesions (visible on X-ray)
-Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia results from having tons of IgM that clogs up the arteries |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
-It is loss of lean body mass, often in association with cancer
-Diff than weight loss from starvation, b/c in starvation there is primarily fat loss at first (both with this) |
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Term
| What is paraneoplastic syndrome and what is the most common example? |
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Definition
-It is when you get symptoms elsewhere in the body, typically because of products produced by a distal tumor
-HyPERcalcemia is an example |
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Term
| What is immunohistochemistry's method and role in diagnosing cancer? |
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Definition
-IHC uses labeled antibody to find tumor antigens, or uses dye specific for tumor cells (for whatever reason)
-It is particularly useful in classification and cancer in terms of type and location/origin
-Also has prognostic value |
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Term
| What does molecular diagnosis look at? What is it useful for? |
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Definition
-Looks at DNA
-It is good for detecting smaller amounts and for determining hereditary predisposition
-Also useful in diagnosis and prognosis |
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Term
| What can we use tumor markers for mostly? What are some common ones (4) and associated cancers? |
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Definition
-Not great for diagnosis in itself, but can support one
-Mostly good for determining therapy response (relapse, remission, etc.)
-CEA; usually in embryonic gut, good for detection of **colorectal**, pancreatic*, gastric, and breast
-However, is occasionally elevated in smokers
-a-fetoprotein(AFP); liver cancer, and yolk sack tumor
-Prostatic-specific antigen (PSA); prostate cancer
-CA-125; ovarian cancer |
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