Cancer cell technology as a tool for teaching basic principles of immunology (EDU1P.248)

Abstract

Abstract Testicular cancer mainly affects men between the ages of 20 and 39, but it is the most common neoplasm in men between the ages of 15 and 34. The National Cancer Institute states that localized testicular cancer has a recurrence rate of 15-20%, and those tumors, including Sertoli or Leydig cell derived, do not respond well to chemotherapy or radiation treatment. My summer research was centered on the effort to better characterize the immune response to a testicular tumor. This was accomplished through the use of different immunology techniques such as proliferation assays, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and ELISPOT. My lab experience inspired me to design a unit curriculum which will help elucidate the various physiognomies of tumor growth. Students first learn and apply the essential techniques of cancer cell culture. The testicular cancer cell line I-10 (CCL-83, ATCC) is used to familiarize students with routine feeding and maintenance, subculturing, counting, and cryopreservation. I-10 cell RNA is converted to cDNA and qualitatively analyzed for inhibin-alpha gene expression, which serves as a tumor marker, using RT-PCR. Then, they analyze previously formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded murine testes (normal and cancerous) using H&E staining and immunohistochemical staining for CD3, inhibin-alpha, and IgG. Upon completion of this unit, students demonstrate these learned skills in a combined written and practical examination.