Tumor Microenvironment (TME) Questions and Answers PDF

**51. Why does the tumor microenvironment (TME) become depleted of glucose?**\ a. Tumor cells consume excessive glucose due to the Warburg Effect.\ b. Tumor cells lack glycolytic enzymes.\ c. Immune cells utilize all the glucose.\ d. Glucose transporters are inhibited.\ **Answer:** a **52. What byp...

**51. Why does the tumor microenvironment (TME) become depleted of glucose?**\ a. Tumor cells consume excessive glucose due to the Warburg Effect.\ b. Tumor cells lack glycolytic enzymes.\ c. Immune cells utilize all the glucose.\ d. Glucose transporters are inhibited.\ **Answer:** a **52. What byproduct of glycolysis contributes to the acidity of the TME?**\ a. Carbon dioxide\ b. Lactic acid\ c. Acetyl-CoA\ d. Pyruvate\ **Answer:** b **53. How does acidity in the TME affect immune cells?**\ a. Enhances their cytotoxic activity\ b. Promotes T-cell proliferation\ c. Impairs immune cell function and induces anergy\ d. Increases their glucose uptake\ **Answer:** c **54. Why does hypoxia impair immune cell activity in the TME?**\ a. Immune cells rely primarily on aerobic metabolism.\ b. Hypoxia triggers T-cell proliferation.\ c. Hypoxia reduces lactate production.\ d. Oxygen availability enhances M2 macrophage polarization.\ **Answer:** a **55. Which molecule is upregulated by tumor cells to enhance glucose uptake?**\ a. CXCL12\ b. GLUT1\ c. VEGF\ d. IL-10\ **Answer:** b **56. How does lactate accumulation in the TME benefit tumor cells?**\ a. Enhances immune cell proliferation\ b. Inhibits immune cell function by increasing acidity\ c. Increases oxygen levels in the tumor\ d. Promotes neutrophil activation\ **Answer:** b **57. What happens to immune cells in a glucose-depleted TME?**\ a. They increase glycolysis.\ b. They enter an anergic state.\ c. They rely on fatty acid metabolism.\ d. They undergo apoptosis.\ **Answer:** b **58. Which immune cells are most affected by the acidic and glucose-depleted TME?**\ a. Regulatory T cells (Tregs)\ b. Natural killer (NK) cells and effector T cells\ c. Fibroblasts\ d. B cells\ **Answer:** b **59. How does the Warburg Effect give tumors a survival advantage?**\ a. Produces more ATP per glucose molecule.\ b. Allows faster energy production, supporting rapid growth.\ c. Increases oxidative stress in the TME.\ d. Promotes immune cell infiltration.\ **Answer:** b **60. How do tumor cells convert fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)?**\ a. Through TGF-β signaling\ b. By upregulating IL-10\ c. By producing exosomes\ d. Through Fas ligand secretion\ **Answer:** a **61. What is the main role of CAFs in the TME?**\ a. Secreting IFN-γ\ b. Promoting tumor cell apoptosis\ c. Building a collagen barrier around the tumor\ d. Inducing T-cell activation\ **Answer:** c **62. What happens to CD4+ T cells in the presence of high TGF-β levels?**\ a. They become cytotoxic CD8+ T cells.\ b. They convert into regulatory T cells (Tregs).\ c. They proliferate and enhance immune response.\ d. They undergo apoptosis.\ **Answer:** b **63. How do tumors manipulate macrophages in the TME?**\ a. Polarizing M1 macrophages into pro-tumoral M2 macrophages\ b. Enhancing macrophage phagocytosis\ c. Increasing cytokine release from macrophages\ d. Suppressing macrophage proliferation\ **Answer:** a **64. What is the function of M2 macrophages in the TME?**\ a. Anti-inflammatory and tumor-promoting\ b. Pro-inflammatory and tumor-killing\ c. Enhancing immune surveillance\ d. Promoting B-cell activity\ **Answer:** a **65. What type of immune cells are most actively suppressed by Tregs in the TME?**\ a. Neutrophils\ b. Effector T cells\ c. Fibroblasts\ d. B cells\ **Answer:** b **66. What is the primary function of Tregs in the tumor microenvironment?**\ a. Promote cytotoxic T-cell activity\ b. Inhibit immune response and protect the tumor\ c. Activate NK cells to attack tumor cells\ d. Enhance macrophage phagocytosis\ **Answer:** b **67. Which cytokine promotes the conversion of macrophages to the M2 phenotype?**\ a. IL-10\ b. IL-6\ c. IFN-γ\ d. TGF-β\ **Answer:** d **68. What role do CAFs play in immune evasion?**\ a. Enhance antigen presentation to T cells\ b. Prevent immune cell infiltration by creating physical barriers\ c. Activate neutrophils\ d. Increase glucose availability in the TME\ **Answer:** b **69. Which type of T cell is most likely to lose function in the hypoxic TME?**\ a. CD8+ cytotoxic T cells\ b. Regulatory T cells\ c. B cells\ d. Helper T cells (Th2)\ **Answer:** a