RUNNING HEAD: Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography: Cancer Immunology The University of Texas at El Paso Cassidy Daw Summer 2013

Annotated Bibliography

Dranoff, G. (2012). Experimental mouse tumour models: what can be learnt about human cancer immunology?. Nature Reviews Immunology, 12(1), 61-66. doi:10.1038/nri3129 This article discusses an experiment that involves growing human-like tumors inside of rats. The reason that rats are used is to speed up the finding of benefits in a clinical sense. By determining the effects of the anti-tumor response on a rat, researchers can predict what the reaction in a human would be. Determining how exactly tumors are formed and if theyre susceptible to any vaccine like treatments is a large part of immunology. This article will help determine the question of value and if this treatment is successful in a lab, which will foreshadow success in a patient. The fact that an actual simulation of a human tumor can be completed in a rat is a huge mechanic success. Although this article focuses on the positives and breakthroughs of immunology, it also states that there are some tumors that are not susceptible to new and body activated and personalized treatment. Engber, D. (2012, December 21). Is the cure for cancer inside you?. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/magazine/is-the-cure-for-cancer-insideyou.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 This article discusses a man who won the Nobel prize three days after he died. When diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he began treating and experimenting on himself. Using immunology, he hoped that his cells would reprogram themselves to defeat the cancer. Although it failed, it may have been extending his life. This source explains the many people who are so desperate to find a cure. Ralph Steinman took this devastating news and tried to use it to help others and turn his situation around. While the outcome for any cancer, let alone pancreatic cancer, are often

Annotated Bibliography

times negative, he chose the scientific route. This source is proof that many scientists see a huge possibility of success for immunology in the field or curing cancer. If this man was willing to treat himself with this new form of personalized treatment and successfully extend his life, this could be a huge scientific breakthrough. Gallagher, J. (2013, January 03). Immune system 'booster' may hit cancer. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20898931 This article talks about how stem cells and a number of different cells are being grown in a lab in Japan. These cells cannot only defeat cancer cells, but HIV as well. While testing inside of humans has not occurred, hope that injecting vast amounts of these cells will jump-start an immune response. This source serves as a question of policy. Cancer is something that is not just in America, but also throughout the world. With a global disease, such as this, doctors and researchers are constantly working to find a cure. Using immunology, researchers have found a cell that will not only defeat, but continue to multiply to constantly beat cancer. This source will serve as a factual and educational article, which serves to prove how numerous the benefits of immunology are. While stating the benefits and hopes for immunology in the future, this could be something that affects the next generation. Mandal, A. (2010, February 18). What is immunology?. Retrieved from http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Immunology.aspx This article defines immunology and other important key words that are associated with this type of treatment, such as innate and adaptive immune systems. Also mentioned in this article are the different types of lymphoid organs that are involved in immunity and play a crucial role during the treatment process.

Annotated Bibliography

The most important thing about this article is the fact that it tells you exactly what immunology is. Taking into consideration the process of the treatment, the idea that the organs are doing all of the work is mind boggling. This article explains exactly which organs are doing most of the work. It goes even further to explain which organs can be successfully removed and still allow the patient a relatively normal lifestyle. This specific angle will help to understand the definition as well as the policy that goes into determining if this type of treatment will even be considered in order to treat a patient. Marr, L. A., Gilham, D. E., Campbell, J. M., & Fraser, A. R. (2012). Immunology in the clinic review series; focus on cancer: double trouble for tumours: bi-functional and redirected T cells as effective cancer immunotherapies. Clinical & Experimental Immunology, 167(2), 216-225. oi:10.1111/j.1365-2249.2011.04517.x This article explains some processes and experimented research that go into finding a treatment. When using different vectors and cells, many different outcomes may occur during treatment. While many options are available, this article points out the possibilities during gene transfer, such as a solution, a mechanism of action and some disadvantages. This article will be helpful for research because it is based on a research project. An article covering research, such as this, serves as a source for question of consequence. The whole focus of this article is based during the trial stage of cancer immunology. This gives a specific example of how discovering new and better methods of treatment are happening right now. Throughout the article, many elements of hard evidence are later proved as facts. Angles such as these are non-biased and serve as a realistic view of the benefits and downfalls of this method, while listing them explicitly.

Annotated Bibliography

Steinman, R. M. (2009). Some Scientific and Organizational Challenges in Cancer Immunology. Annals Of The New York Academy Of Sciences, 11741-5. doi:10.1111/j.17496632.2009.05060.x This article presents many types of limiting factors that would decrease the chance of success with this type of treatment. It states some obstacles such as the blockage of the T cells and some tumor evasion mechanisms. This article also mentions other factors such as the funding for immunology research, which would prevent success. While many immunology articles state a very optimistic point of view for this method of treatment, this article serves as the most negative out of them all. There is not one positive statement immunology to be found in the article. However, this source gives a holistic view of treatment, in that there are limiting factors and that this treatment will, unfortunately, not apply to every case. This source addresses the question of interpretation. The author of this article could have taken the stance of many others who agree that there will never be a better treatment than chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Van der Most, R. (2009). Combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy to treat cancer. Discovery Medicine, Retrieved from http://www.discoverymedicine.com/Robbert-GVan-der-most/2009/07/25/combining-immunotherapy-with-chemotherapy-to-treatcancer/ This article talks about the differences in chemotherapy and immunotherapy. While focusing on the benefits of each, it also states that the combination of both types of treatment has frequently been used to treat cancer. This fact that immunotherapy can be more long-term than chemotherapy is discussed.

Annotated Bibliography When researching the topic, the issue of either pro -chemo or pro-

immunotherapy seemed to be more and more frequently occurring. This article, however states that in many cases, chemotherapy and immunotherapy have been used together successfully. This source will be helpful for the neutral point of view when presenting this topic. One reason that this article is so helpful is that most researchers take a stand with one side and fail to mention the other. This article points out both the good and the bad for the type of treatment, along with the side effects that go along with it.