Advanced Course in Immunology On Demand Lecture Recordings-Tumor Immunology

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This talk traced the history and current state of tumor immunology, emphasizing how the immune system interacts with developing cancers and how that knowledge has shaped modern therapies. Bob Schreiber began with William Coley’s early, risky attempts to treat cancer using bacterial infection, which hinted that immunity could attack tumors. He then reviewed the rise, fall, and later revival of the cancer immunosurveillance hypothesis, showing how improved mouse models eventually demonstrated that immune deficiency increases tumor formation and that immunity can also “edit” tumors into less immunogenic variants.<br /><br />He described cancer immunoediting as a three-step process: elimination, equilibrium, and escape. The talk then moved to basic tumor immunology, including tumor antigens such as tumor-specific transplantation antigens, tumor-associated antigens, and neoantigens. Schreiber explained that effective tumor immunity requires antigen recognition, proper antigen presentation, co-stimulation, and the ability of immune cells to access the tumor microenvironment.<br /><br />A major section focused on immune suppression in tumors, including regulatory T cells, TR1 cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, as well as common tumor escape mechanisms like antigen loss, MHC downregulation, and T-cell exhaustion. He then reviewed immunotherapies: monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, adoptive T-cell therapy, CAR T cells, checkpoint blockade, and vaccines.<br /><br />Checkpoint therapy, especially CTLA-4 and PD-1 blockade, was highlighted as a major breakthrough, though limited by toxicity and resistance. Schreiber ended by emphasizing neoantigen vaccines and emerging “dark genome” targets as promising future directions, arguing that cancer immunotherapy is now the fifth major pillar of cancer treatment.

Asset Subtitle

Lecture 16: Robert D. Schreiber, Washington University School of Medicine

Tumor Immunology

Asset Caption

Robert D. Schreiber, Washington University School of Medicine
Tumor Immunology

Keywords

tumor immunology

cancer immunosurveillance

cancer immunoediting

immune system

tumor antigens

neoantigens

tumor microenvironment

immune suppression

regulatory T cells

checkpoint blockade

PD-1

CAR T cells