Tumor antigen vaccine
Encyclopedia
A tumor antigen vaccine is a vaccine
made of cancer cells, parts of cancer cells, or pure tumor antigen
s (substances isolated from tumor cells). A tumor antigen vaccine may stimulate the body's immune system
to find and kill cancer cells.
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
made of cancer cells, parts of cancer cells, or pure tumor antigen
Tumor antigen
Tumor antigen is an antigenic substance produced in tumor cells, i.e., it triggers an immune response in the host. Tumor antigens are useful in identifying tumor cells and are potential candidates for use in cancer therapy.- Mechanism of tumor antigenesis:...
s (substances isolated from tumor cells). A tumor antigen vaccine may stimulate the body's immune system
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
to find and kill cancer cells.
External links
- Tumor antigen vaccine entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms