Final answer:
Proteins and peptides can function as tumor antigens, providing targets for drug delivery systems and therapeutic cancer vaccines. Cell-surface antigens play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating lymphoma.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proteins and peptides can function as tumor antigens. Bioinformatics and cancer proteomics have enabled the identification of protein antigens that are overexpressed in tumors. For example, transferrin (T-f), a serum glycoprotein involved in iron homeostasis and cell growth, has been found to specifically bind to the transferrin receptor (T-f-R), which is overexpressed in various tumors. These protein antigens can be used as targets for nanoparticulate drug delivery systems, and peptide-based ligands are being synthesized to overcome the immunogenicity and off-target effects associated with using whole proteins.
Tumor-specific antigens can also be used in therapeutic cancer vaccines to stimulate the immune system to selectively attack cancer cells. By enhancing TH1 function and interaction with cytotoxic T cells, these vaccines can enhance the immune system's ability to target tumor cells. Additionally, cell-mediated immune responses can be directed against cancer cells that present tumor antigens, which are not part of the normal self-proteins screened during lymphocyte development.
Identifying cell-surface antigens is important in diagnosing and treating lymphoma because cancerous cells often change their cell-surface antigens, allowing the immune system to recognize and destroy them. Furthermore, specific cell-surface antigens can help identify the specific subtype of cancer and tailor treatment accordingly.