Tumour Immunology medical comic

This comic frames cancer as a conflict between tumour cells and the immune system. It explains how tumour antigens differ, which tumour markers matter clinically, how T cells, NK cells and antibodies attack tumours, how tumours escape, and the therapies that rearm the immune system.

For MBBS, NEET-PG, FMGE, NEXT and USMLE revision.

Tumour immunology: what the comic covers

High-yield points

• Tumour-specific transplantation antigens (TSTA) are unique to tumour cells, often from mutations, chemical carcinogens or oncogenic viruses.
• Tumour-associated antigens (TATA) are also found on normal cells; oncofetal antigens such as AFP and CEA are classic examples.
• Tumour markers are used for diagnosis and follow-up, e.g. AFP in liver cancer and germ-cell tumours, CEA in colorectal cancer, PSA in prostate cancer, CA-125 in ovarian cancer.
• Cytotoxic T cells recognise tumour antigens presented on MHC class I and kill tumour cells.
• Many tumours escape by switching off MHC class I — which then makes them targets for natural killer cells.
• Antibodies can tag tumour cells for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).
• Immunotherapy includes cell-based treatments such as dendritic-cell vaccines, monoclonal antibodies against tumour targets, cytokines and preventive vaccines such as HPV and hepatitis B.

Quick questions

What is the difference between TSTA and TATA?

Tumour-specific transplantation antigens are found only on tumour cells. Tumour-associated antigens are also present on some normal cells, often at lower levels or at a different stage of development, like the oncofetal antigens AFP and CEA.

How do natural killer cells detect tumour cells?

NK cells are inhibited by normal MHC class I. Tumour cells that lose MHC class I to hide from cytotoxic T cells lose that inhibition and become targets for NK cells.

Which vaccines help prevent cancer?

Hepatitis B vaccine reduces liver cancer, and HPV vaccine reduces cervical and other HPV-related cancers.

Is this comic free to read?

The first pages are free to preview. Members read the full comic, and you can sign up free to read one comic in full.

Read next

• Transplant Immunology medical comic
• Immune Response medical comic
• Antibodies medical comic
• Helicobacter pylori medical comic

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