Paper I — 2021 December (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) — Q7

Paper I

2021 December (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) · 40 marks · 120 min

Question

Give two examples of tumor associated antigens.

Q72 marksShort Notes★✓

Answer

Two examples of tumour-associated antigens — antigens expressed by tumour cells that can be recognized by the immune system, and used clinically for diagnosis, monitoring, or as therapeutic targets:

1. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) — normally produced by the fetal liver/yolk sac, markedly elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma and germ-cell tumours (yolk sac tumours); used as a tumour marker for diagnosis and monitoring treatment response/recurrence.
2. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) — a fetal antigen normally expressed only during embryonic development, re-expressed in adult colorectal carcinoma (and some other adenocarcinomas); used mainly for post-treatment monitoring/detecting recurrence rather than primary screening (limited specificity for diagnosis, as it can also be elevated in some benign conditions).

(Other valid examples: CA-125 — ovarian carcinoma; PSA (prostate-specific antigen) — prostate carcinoma; CA 19-9 — pancreatic carcinoma.)

Related Concepts

1. 1Transplant Immunology and Tumour Immunology

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