Question

Which type of tumor antigen is least likely to be involved in melanoma, a cancer that typically results from DNA damage by ultra-violet rays?

Group of answer choices:

A.Virally encoded proteins

B.Proteins derived from the reactivation of embryonic genes

C.Spliced peptides

D.Self proteins that are expressed at unusually high levels

E.Peptides derived from self proteins that have undergone coding mutations

Answer 1

Melanoma is not a virus-associated cancer, that is this cancer is not caused because of the infection of a virus and any viral protein contributing to becoming an antigen.

In the case of melanoma, there is activation of MAGE proteins that are involved in embryogenesis. Also, self-peptides and peptides harbouring mutation can lead to melanoma formation.

so the least likely tumor antigen to be involved in melanoma( a cancer caused by DNA damage by UV rays) is Virally encoded proteins(option A).