What is Immuno-Oncology?

,Something different today; let's talk about Immuno Oncology!

So, here we go!

Immuno Oncology

What is it?

Immuno oncology is the use of the immune system by stimulation or giving compounds to combat cancer.

How does it work?

There are two types of immunotherapy:

• Active Immunotherapy
• Passive Immunotherapy

Active Immunotherapy

Active Immunotherapy targets Tumour Associated Antigens which are found on the surface of cancer cells, by directing the immune system.

Passive Immunotherapy

Active Immunotherapy uses lymphocytes (a subtype of white blood cell), monoclonal antibodies (the fusion of a cell (I.e spleen cell from a mouse) with a cancer cell to form a hybridoma) and cytokines (small proteins)

The history of immunotherapy

Let's take a step back a second, and investigate how immunotherapy first began...

Edward Jenner who was alive during the 18th Century, was also alive during the time that smallpox was widespread.

herschelmuseum.org.uk

Jenner noticed that milkmaids who were subject to cowpox did not get smallpox afterwards. So, he took the puss from blisters on the hands of the milkmaids and injected them into a boy. For a short time, the boy got sick, but afterwards... the boy became immune to both cowpox and smallpox.

Jenner had created the first vaccine.

Assessing our methods 

Active Immunotherapy 

Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines

www.lungevity.org

Presents T-Cells (A type of lymphocyte) and B-Cells (Lymphocytes that specifically produce antibodies) to a TAA

 Adverse effects: may produce T-Cells that attack normal tissue

Cytokines

Tampers with the "lifestyle" of lymphocytes

Adverse effects: the cytokines may cause the lymphocytes to work on normal tissue

Passive Immunotherapy

Monoclonal Antibodies

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

 When monoclonal antibodies are injected into the body, they target the TAA. Then, they perform four different things:

1. Identify the tumour for destruction
2. Affect the signalling of immune receptors
3. Cause the promotion of immune receptor degradation
4. Bring anti-cancer cells to the tumour cells

 Adverse effects: some non-malignant cells may be affected in the process by autoimmune responses

Cell Therapies

cellbiomedgroup.com

 T-cells are genetically modified and injected into the patient where they promote an immune response

Adverse effects: it may target normal cells if they have the same target antigens 

Mediators of T-cell activation

Builds up the autoimmne response by promoting activation of T-cells 

Adverse effects: Could affect the way the immune system works, promoting t-cells to target normal tissue
 

Hope you've learnt lots from this post! 

- Geeker