Tumor Immunology

Which of the following best describes a Tumor-Specific Antigen (TSA)?

• An antigen expressed by both tumor and normal cells

• A self-antigen overexpressed in cancer cells

• An antigen arising from mutations unique to tumor cells

• An antigen found only on embryonic tissues

• A surface protein involved in angiogenesis

A key mechanism by which Natural Killer (NK) cells recognize and eliminate tumor cells is by detecting:

• High expression of MHC class I molecules

• Presence of neoantigens on tumor cells

• Antigen presentation via dendritic cells

• Loss or downregulation of MHC class I molecules

• CD28 co-stimulation on T cells

Which of the following is considered a primary role of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in anti-tumor immunity?

• Promoting B cell differentiation

• Direct killing of tumor cells via perforin and granzyme

• Enhancing regulatory T cell function

• Presenting antigen to naïve T cells

• Inducing angiogenesis

Tumors have developed numerous strategies to evade immune surveillance. All of the following are recognized mechanisms of immune evasion EXCEPT:

• Upregulation of MHC class I molecules

• Downregulation of tumor antigens

• Secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines, TGF-β

• Recruitment of regulatory T cells (Tregs)

• Expression of immune checkpoint molecules, PD-L1

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy involves genetically modifying a patient's T cells. What component of the CAR construct is responsible for recognizing the antigen on the tumor cell?

• CD3ζ signaling domain

• Costimulatory domain (e.g., CD28 or 4-1BB)

• Hinge region

• Single-chain variable fragment

• Transmembrane domain