CANCER
CEA:
- detected in serum
- Colon cancer
- Increased in tumors
PIP:
- used in immunohistochemistry
- Tissue marker (used in biopsy )
Oncofetal antigens:
- Antigens, which are usually expressed only in embryonic cells, but are sometimes found in tumors
- AFP = marker for liver and germ cell tumor
- CEA = Colorectal cancer
- hCG = Choriocarcinoma, germ cell tumours
Immunotherapy:
- uses body immune system to detect and destroy the tumor
- Specific and non specific
TNF-α (NOT USED IN CANCER TREATMENT USUALLY, USE FOR AD LIKE RA)
- Pro inflammatory role (anti tumor effects)
- Cytokines activate immune cells especially (macrophages and cytotoxic T cells)
- Promotes apoptosis
- Enhances tumor necrosis and inflammation at tumor site
- Tumor promoting roles
- Chronic tnf-a elevation >> to inflammation and tumor growth
- Stimulates angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels)
- Suppress adaptive immunity
Immunotoxin therapy:
- Targeted toxin immunotherapy used to treat tumours
- -Example is diphtheria toxin ( fusion of IL-2 and diphtheria toxin)
Other targeted therapies:
- TKI’s (tyrosine kinase inhibitors)
- Targeted molecular therapy, directly block cancer cells and enzymes/signalling pathways
- Cytostatics
- Kill rapidly dividing cells indiscriminately