PSA ELISA: Immunology and The Screening, Treatment and Ethics of Prostate Cancer

Developed by: Elizabeth Spike
© American Association of Immunologists 2001

Overview
PSA ELISA: Immunology and the Screening, Treatment and Ethics of Prostate Cancer is a three part project that would take about 1 1/2 weeks to complete. The main objective of the project is to teach high school biology students about antibody-antigen specificity. The project focuses on the body's inability to maintain homeostasis due to the failure of the immune system to distinguish between self versus non-self. Prostate cancer and the ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) technique to detect and measure PSA antigen from three samples are used to discover antibody-antigen specificity and to introduce Tumor Immunotherapy to students. 

The project can be viewed as a triangle in which each point represents one part of the project. The triangle approach provides flexibility for the teacher because any point can be used as a point of entry into the project. 

Part One: Immunology Background

Part Two: ELISA Lab

Part Three: Prostate Cancer

Objectives

 1. Conceptual Skills based on the New York State Living Environment Core Curriculum Outline and Standards for Mathematics, Science, and Technology

• Understand the concept of homeostasis
• Compare disease and homeostasis
• Explain that cells posses specialized internal structures that perform a variety of functions, including protein production (PSA produced by prostate cells)
• Describe the concept of self vs. non-self recognition as a way to maintain homeostasis
• Explain the role of the immune system, specifically white blood cells, in protection against pathogens
• Describe how PSA is recognized by antibodies specific to PSA molecular structure
• Describe how cancer escapes the self/non-self recognition and causes disease
• List some risks that may cause cancer and possibly this occurs at the genetic level
• Perform an ELISA and understand the steps and results
• Critique prostate cancer treatments, discuss immunotherapy, role-play prostate cancer medical ethics, and be able to elaborate one's view through writing

2. Laboratory skills checklist from New York State Living Environment Core Curriculum Outline and Standards for Mathematics, Science, and Technology

To receive a copy of this curriculum, please contact: The American Association of Immunologists, telephone: (301) 634-7178, fax: (301) 634-7887, email infoaai@aai.org.