The research going on in the training faculty labs have direct relevance to cancer research. Our new faculty Drs. Background Tumor Immunology has reached the molecular age. The tumor specific antigens of the 1980's have given way to identification by biochemical approaches of tumor peptides restricted by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. This has major bearing on our understanding of how the immune system interacts with tumor cells.
Recent studies show that immunity to tumor antigens works similarly to any cellular antigens.
That is, peptides are presented by MHC class I or class II molecules to CD8 or CD4 T cells. Consequently the variety of potential tumor antigens recognized by T cells is likely vast. Peptides derived from mastocytomas, lung carcinomas, and melanomas have been found to be MHC class I restricted. Peptides which are bound to MHC class I molecules from tumor cells can be eluted, fractionated by HPLC, and identified through mass spectrometry. The important peptides can be identified, sequenced, and used for various immunotherapeutic studies and vaccine production.