Tumor and virus-infected cells

Tumor and virus-infected cells refer to host cells that have undergone pathological transformation, either through malignant mutations or viral hijacking. These cells are characterized by the expression of abnormal antigens, such as neoantigens or viral proteins, and often exhibit the downregulation of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules to evade immune detection (Garcia-Lora et al., 2003). In the context of pharmacology and immunology, these cells are the primary targets for destruction by the innate and adaptive immune systems, particularly by Natural Killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Abbas et al., 2017). Various therapeutic modalities, including monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, and antivirals, are designed to facilitate the identification and elimination of these cells. However, "Tumor and virus-infected cells" is a description of a cellular state or population rather than a specific molecular target like a protein or enzyme. Consequently, drug discovery efforts focus on identifying specific biomarkers or signaling pathways unique to these cells to ensure selective therapeutic action and minimize damage to healthy tissues (Baron et al., 1996).

Other names

Malignant cellsVirally-infected host cellsTransformed cellsTarget cells (immunology)

Induction of apoptosis, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and T-cell mediated lysis.