Published by Australian Academy of Science
Activity 1 | Cancer immunotherapy – redefining vaccines

Cancer immunotherapy

This jigsaw activity requires students to research different aspects of cancer immunotherapy

• Form into a group of 4 students (this is your 'home group')

• Each member of your group will be given one of the following aspects of cancer immunotherapy to research:
  1. Immunotherapy using telomerase
  2. Immunotherapy using cultured dendritic cells
  3. Immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies
  4. Production of monoclonal antibodies

• The students with the same topic from different groups are then to come together to complete the research task. This is your 'expert group'

• Using the information on this website and the links under the useful sites tab, you should:
  • explain whether the immunotherapy is active or passive
  • describe in a series of dot points how the therapy works in terms of the immune system and how it targets cancer cells
  • give an example of research involving this particular immunotherapy
  • evaluate this type of immunotherapy for treating cancer
  • ensure each expert group member has a copy of the information gathered

• Students are then to return to their home groups and take turns teaching their group about each particular type of immunotherapy.

• Each home group then produces a poster with diagrams summarising the four aspects of immunotherapy.