Question

Discuss how cancer cells evade immune destruction and the role of changes to surface antigens in cancer cells.

Answer 1

Cancerous cells undergo transformation and begin to proliferate without control. The tumor cells acquire tumor associated antigens and tumor specific antigens that change the cell surface or result in mutated genes or abnormal expression of tumor suppression genes.

The expression of such antigens helps the immune system of the host to recognize their cells as foreign and activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). These CTLs activate macrophages to produce Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNIF) that interferes with blood supply to cancerous cells and aid in elimination of cancerous cell by lysis of tumor cell.