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Potent anti-tumor immune response and tumor growth inhibition induced by HER2 subdomain fusion protein in a mouse tumor model. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2022; 149:2437-2450. [PMID: 35737089 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-022-04084-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Several approaches have so far been employed to establish anti-tumor immunity by targeting HER2 protein. Active immunization with recombinant HER2 subdomains has previously been demonstrated to induce potent immune response and tumor growth inhibition. In the present study, we investigated the immunogenicity and tumor inhibitory effect of a fusion protein consisting of human HER2 extracellular subdomain (ECD-DI + II) together with T-helper cell epitopes of Tetanus toxin (p2 and p30). METHODS BALB/c mice were immunized with two recombinant proteins (DI + II and p2p30-DI + II) emulsified in 4 different adjuvants. Anti-DI + II antibody response, cytokine profile, frequency of splenic CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and CD8+CD107a+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were assessed in the immunized mice. To assess the anti-tumor effect, the immunized mice were subcutaneously challenged with HER2-overexpressing tumor cells and the tumor growth was determined. RESULTS Both recombinant proteins were able to induce comparable levels of ECD-DI + II-specific antibodies. Immunization with p2p30-DI + II resulted in a significant increase in the level of Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) secretion compared to DI + II protein and significantly higher frequency of CTLs and lower frequency of Tregs. The number of mice that remained tumor-free until day 120 was significantly higher in p2p30-DI + II vaccinated groups. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that the p2p30-DI + II fusion protein together with CpG adjuvant induces more potent anti-tumor immune responses in a mouse tumor model. Accordingly, this formulation might be considered as a potential immunotherapeutic approach in HER2+ cancers.
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He M, Yang T, Wang Y, Wang M, Chen X, Ding D, Zheng Y, Chen H. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Strategies for Synergistic Cancer Therapy. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2002104. [PMID: 33709564 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202002104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICBT) targeting checkpoints, such as, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein-4 (CTLA-4), programmed death-1 (PD-1), or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), can yield durable immune response in various types of cancers and has gained constantly increasing research interests in recent years. However, the efficacy of ICBT alone is limited by low response rate and immune-related side effects. Emerging preclinical and clinical studies reveal that chemotherapy, radiotherapy, phototherapy, or other immunotherapies can reprogramm immunologically "cold" tumor microenvironment into a "hot" one, thus synergizing with ICBT. In this review, the working principle and current development of various immune checkpoint inhibitors are summarized, while the interactive mechanism and recent progress of ICBT-based synergistic therapies with other immunotherapy, chemotherapy, phototherapy, and radiotherapy in fundamental and clinical studies in the past 5 years are depicted and highlighted. Moreover, the potential issues in current studies of ICBT-based synergistic therapies and future perspectives are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengying He
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Tao Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Yuhan Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Mengyuan Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Xingye Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Dawei Ding
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Yiran Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Huabing Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
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Nilofar Danishmalik S, Lee SH, Sin JI. Tumor regression is mediated via the induction of HER263-71- specific CD8+ CTL activity in a 4T1.2/HER2 tumor model: no involvement of CD80 in tumor control. Oncotarget 2018; 8:26771-26788. [PMID: 28460461 PMCID: PMC5432296 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In the CT26/HER2 and 4T1.2/HER2 tumor models, CT26/HER2 cells form tumors that continue to grow, whereas 4T1.2/HER2 cells form tumors that eventually regress. Here, we investigated the differences in the behaviors of these two cell lines. When immune cells from 4T1.2/HER2 tumor-bearing animals were stimulated with HER2 class I peptides, they displayed a 2-fold increase in IFN-γ levels, in response to the peptides, HER263-71 and HER2342-350. In contrast, extremely high levels of antigen-non-specific IFN-γ production were observed with immune cells and sera from CT26/HER2 tumor-bearing mice. However, IFN-γ had no effect on tumor progression in the CT26/HER2 model, as determined by an IFN-γ knockout assay. 4T1.2/HER2 tumor-bearing mice displayed CTL activity in response to HER263-71 but not to HER2342-350, whereas no such induction was observed in CT26/HER2 tumor-bearing mice. When 4T1.2/HER2 cell-challenged mice were depleted of CD8+ T cells, they lost their tumor-regressing activity, suggesting an antitumor role of HER263-71-specific CD8+ CTLs in the control of this tumor type. CT26/HER2 cells also expressed CD80. However, CD80-transfected 4T1.2/HER2 and CD80-non-expressing CT26/HER2 cells failed to alter their tumorigenicity, suggesting no role of CD80 in tumor control. Despite increased levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor, they were not associated with tumor progression in the CT26/HER2 model, as determined by a cell depletion assay. Overall, these data show that, contrary to CT26/HER2 tumors, 4T1.2/HER2 tumors regress via the induction of HER263-71-specific CD8+ CTLs and that CD80 is not associated with the regression of these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayyed Nilofar Danishmalik
- BK21 Plus Graduate Program and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Korea
| | - Si-Hyeong Lee
- BK21 Plus Graduate Program and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Korea
| | - Jeong-Im Sin
- BK21 Plus Graduate Program and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Korea
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Ahmadi M, Sadri-Ardalani F, Amiri MM, Jeddi-Tehrani M, Shabani M, Shokri F. Immunization with HER2 extracellular subdomain proteins induces cellular response and tumor growth inhibition in mice. Immunotherapy 2018; 10:511-524. [PMID: 29562854 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2017-0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM We investigated cellular and protective immune responses in mice vaccinated with recombinant HER2 extracellular subdomains. MATERIALS & METHODS Balb/C mice were immunized with recombinant full HER2 extracellular domain and subdomain proteins. Humoral and cellular immune response and antitumor effect was evaluated using a syngeneic mice tumor model. RESULTS All recombinant proteins induced secretion of IL-4 and particularly IFN-γ and IL-17 cytokines. Challenging of immunized mice with stable 4T1-HER2 transfected cells resulted in partial but significant tumor growth inhibition in all groups of mice particularly those immunized with fHER2-ECD together with CPG. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the recombinant HER2-ECD subdomains induce mainly Th1 and Th17 responses, which seem to contribute to tumor growth inhibition in syngeneic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moslem Ahmadi
- Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fateme Sadri-Ardalani
- Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad M Amiri
- Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Jeddi-Tehrani
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Shabani
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fazel Shokri
- Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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DNA vaccines targeting the encoded antigens to dendritic cells induce potent antitumor immunity in mice. BMC Immunol 2013; 14:39. [PMID: 23941509 PMCID: PMC3751307 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2172-14-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although DNA vaccine holds a great potential for cancer immunotherapy, effective long-lasting antitumoral immunity sufficient to induce durable responses in cancer patients remains to be achieved. Considering the pivotal role of dendritic cells (DC) in the antigen processing and presentation, we prepared DC-targeting DNA vaccines by fusing tumor-associated antigen HER2/neu ectodomain to single chain antibody fragment (scFv) from NLDC-145 antibody specific for DC-restricted surface molecule DEC-205 (scFvNLDC-145), and explored its antitumoral efficacy and underlying mechanisms in mouse breast cancer models. RESULTS In vivo targeting assay demonstrated that scFvNLDC-145 specifically delivered DNA vaccine-encoded antigen to DC. Compared with untargeted HER2/neu DNA vaccines, vaccination with scFvNLDC-145-HER2/neu markedly promoted the HER2/neu-specific cellular and humoral immune responses with long-lasting immune memory, resulting in effective protection against challenge of HER2/neu-positive D2F2/E2 breast tumor while ineffective in parental HER2/neu-negative D2F2 breast tumor. More importantly, in combination with temporary depletion of regulatory T cells (Treg) by low-dose cyclophosphamide, vaccination with scFvNLDC-145-HER2/neu induced the regression of established D2F2/E2 breast tumor and significantly retarded the development of spontaneous mammary carcinomas in transgenic BALB-neuT mice. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that DC-targeted DNA vaccines for in vivo direct delivery of tumor antigens to DC could induce potent antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses and, if additional combination with systemic Treg depletion, was able to elicit an impressively therapeutic antitumoral activity, providing a rationale for further development of this approach for cancer treatment.
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He YJ, Zhou J, Zhao TF, Hu LS, Gan JY, Deng L, Li Y. Eps8 vaccine exerts prophylactic antitumor effects in a murine model: a novel vaccine for breast carcinoma. Mol Med Rep 2013; 8:662-8. [PMID: 23754615 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2013.1514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 05/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer vaccines are an effective way to prevent the occurrence of cancer. Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8 (Eps8) is a novel tumor-associated antigen, which is overexpressed in the majority of tumor types. In the present study, the Eps8 protein was cloned and characterized, and its feasibility as an antitumor agent in murine breast carcinoma was investigated. The results revealed that the Eps8 protein increased the secretion of interleukin (IL)-12 in the culture supernatant of dendritic cells (DCs). The Eps8 protein‑pulsed DCs induced significant cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, T-cell proliferation and a higher level of interferon (IFN)-γ in the culture supernatant of the splenocytes ex vivo. Additionally, when the mice were immunized with the Eps8 vaccine, this resulted in a regression of 4T1 breast tumors and significantly prolonged survival time in the tumor‑bearing mice compared with that in the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control group. The Eps8 vaccine induced higher CTL responses in the splenocytes of mice vaccinated against the 4T1 cells; the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells was increased in the Eps8 group; and the percentage of CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in the Eps8 group was significantly lower compared with that of the PBS group. The results suggested that the Eps8 vaccine was able to stimulate antitumor effects against 4T1 breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, and it may provide a potential immunotherapeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jie He
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510282, P.R. China
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Nguyen-Hoai T, Hohn O, Vu MD, Baldenhofer G, Sayed Ahmed MS, Dörken B, Norley S, Lipp M, Pezzutto A, Westermann J. CCL19 as an adjuvant for intradermal gene gun immunization in a Her2/neu mouse tumor model: improved vaccine efficacy and a role for B cells as APC. Cancer Gene Ther 2012; 19:880-7. [DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2012.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Wang B, Zaidi N, He LZ, Zhang L, Kuroiwa JMY, Keler T, Steinman RM. Targeting of the non-mutated tumor antigen HER2/neu to mature dendritic cells induces an integrated immune response that protects against breast cancer in mice. Breast Cancer Res 2012; 14:R39. [PMID: 22397502 PMCID: PMC3446373 DOI: 10.1186/bcr3135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2011] [Revised: 12/19/2011] [Accepted: 03/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Given their relative simplicity of manufacture and ability to be injected repeatedly, vaccines in a protein format are attractive for breast and other cancers. However, soluble human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)/neu protein as a vaccine has not been immunogenic. When protein is directly targeted to antigen uptake receptors, such as DEC205 (DEC), efficient processing and presentation of antigen take place. The aim of this study was to determine the immunogenicity of a HER2 protein vaccine that directly targets to DEC+ dendritic cells (DCs) in a mouse breast cancer model. METHODS We genetically engineered the HER2 extracellular domain into a monoclonal antibody specific for DEC (DEC-HER2). Mice of various genetic backgrounds were immunized with DEC-HER2 in combination with DC maturation stimuli (poly IC ± CD40 Ab). Vaccine-induced T cell immunity was determined by analyzing the ability of CD4+/CD8+ T cell to produce interferon (IFN)-gamma and proliferate upon antigen rechallenge. Sera were assessed for the presence of antigen specific antibody (Ab). For vaccine efficacy, FVB/N mice were immunized with DEC-HER2 in combination with poly IC and protection against neu-expressing mammary tumors was assessed. Protection mechanisms and tumor-specific T cell responses were also evaluated. RESULTS We demonstrate that DEC-HER2 fusion mAb, but not Ctrl Ig-HER2, elicits strong, broad and multifunctional CD4+ T cell immunity, CD8+ T cell responses, and humoral immunity specific for HER2 antigen. Cross-reactivity to rat neu protein was also observed. Importantly, mice xeno-primed with DEC-HER2 were protected from a neu-expressing mammary tumor challenge. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells mediated the tumor protection. Robust anti-tumor T cell immunity was detected in tumor protected mice. CONCLUSIONS Immunization of mice with HER2 protein vaccine targeting DEC+ DCs in vivo induced high levels of T- and B-cell immunity. Non-targeted HER2 protein was poorly immunogenic for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. This vaccination approach provided long-term survival benefit for mice challenged with neu-expressing tumor following as little as 2.7 μg of HER2 protein incorporated in the vaccine. Vaccine-induced CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were both essential for tumor protection. This immunization strategy demonstrates great potential towards the development of vaccines for breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Wang
- Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology and Chris Browne Center of Immunology and Immune Disease, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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Pakravan N, Soleimanjahi H, Hassan ZM. GP96 C-terminal improves Her2/neu DNA vaccine. J Gene Med 2010; 12:345-53. [PMID: 20232284 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA vaccines ensure protective immunity against tumors in a variety of experimental models. The favorite target tumor-associated antigens have been those that are frequently expressed by human tumors, such as Her2. However, the efficacy of active vaccination is limited because Her2 is a self-tolerated antigen. Many strategies have been applied to increase the efficacy of DNA vaccination, such as fusion or co-administration of Her2 with cytokine and co-stimulatory molecules. GP96 is involved in innate and adaptive immune responses and evokes potent activation and maturation of dendritic cells along with increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. On the basis of previous studies, we expected the C-terminal of GP96 to act as a package and as a suitable substitute for both cytokine and co-stimulatory genes. METHODS In the present study, the C-terminal of GP96 fused or co-administered with Her2/neu-containing constructs was used and the resultant immune response was evaluated and compared. RESULTS The data obtained showed that the construct containing the C-terminal of GP96 fused with Her2/neu, but not the co-administration of the two separated constructs, decreased CD4(+)CD25(+)foxp3(+) regulatory T cells at the tumor site, enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and increased interferon-gamma secretion. CONCLUSIONS The C-terminal of GP96 has potent adjuvant activity in eliciting a significant immune response when fused with Her2/neu. It may be used as molecular adjuvant along with other tumor or bacterial/viral antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafiseh Pakravan
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Saha A, Chatterjee SK. Dendritic cells pulsed with an anti-idiotype antibody mimicking Her-2/neu induced protective antitumor immunity in two lines of Her-2/neu transgenic mice. Cell Immunol 2010; 263:9-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2010.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2009] [Revised: 02/10/2010] [Accepted: 02/19/2010] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Dimitriadis A, Gontinou C, Baxevanis CN, Mamalaki A. The mannosylated extracellular domain of Her2/neu produced in P. pastoris induces protective antitumor immunity. BMC Cancer 2009; 9:386. [PMID: 19878568 PMCID: PMC2776603 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-9-386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2009] [Accepted: 10/30/2009] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Her2/neu is overexpressed in various human cancers of epithelial origin and is associated with increased metastatic potential and poor prognosis. Several attempts have been made using the extracellular domain of Her2/neu (ECD/Her2) as a prophylactic vaccine in mice with no success in tumor prevention. Methods The extracellular domain of Her2/neu (ECD/Her2) was expressed in yeast P. pastoris, in a soluble highly mannosylated form. The immune response of the immunization with this recombinant ECD/Her2 was analyzed using immunoprecipitation and western blot analysis, proliferation and cytotoxicity assays as well as specific tumor growth assays. Results Mannosylated ECD/Her2 elicited a humoral response with HER2/neu specific antibodies in vaccinated mice, which were able to reduce the proliferation rate of cancer cells in vitro. Moreover, it elicited a cellular response with Her2/neu-specific CTL capable of lysing tumor cells, in vitro. When immunized Balb/c and HHD mice were challenged with Her2/neu-overexpressing cells, tumor growth was inhibited. Conclusion Here we report on the efficacy of the extracellular domain of human Her2/neu produced in yeast P. pastoris, which confers mannosylation of the protein, to act as a potent anti-tumor vaccine against Her2/neu overexpressing tumors. Specific cellular and humoral responses were observed as well as efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexios Dimitriadis
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunobiotechnology, Department of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece.
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Wei H, Wang S, Zhang D, Hou S, Qian W, Li B, Guo H, Kou G, He J, Wang H, Guo Y. Targeted delivery of tumor antigens to activated dendritic cells via CD11c molecules induces potent antitumor immunity in mice. Clin Cancer Res 2009; 15:4612-21. [PMID: 19584156 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-08-3321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE CD11c is an antigen receptor predominantly expressed on dendritic cells (DC), to which antigen targeting has been shown to induce robust antigen-specific immune responses. To facilitate targeted delivery of tumor antigens to DCs, we generated fusion proteins consisting of the extracellular domain of human HER or its rat homologue neu, fused to the single-chain fragment variable specific for CD11c (scFv(CD11c)-HER2/neu). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Induction of cellular and humoral immune responses and antitumoral activity of the fusion proteins admixed with DC-activating CpG oligonucleotides (scFv(CD11c)-HER2/neu(CpG)) were tested in transplantable HER2/neu-expressing murine tumor models and in transgenic BALB-neuT mice developing spontaneous neu-driven mammary carcinomas. RESULTS Vaccination of BALB/c mice with scFv(CD11c)-HER2(CpG) protected mice from subsequent challenge with HER2-positive, but not HER2-negative, murine breast tumor cells, accompanied by induction of strong HER2-specific T-cell and antibody responses. In a therapeutic setting, injection of scFv(CD11c)-HER2(CpG) caused rejection of established HER2-positive tumors. Importantly, antitumoral activity of such a fusion protein vaccine could be reproduced in immunotolerant BALB-neuT mice, where scFv(CD11c)-neu(CpG) vaccination significantly protected against a subsequent challenge with neu-expressing murine breast tumor cells and markedly delayed the onset of spontaneous mammary carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS CD11c-targeted protein vaccines for in vivo delivery of tumor antigens to DCs induce potent immune responses and antitumoral activities and provide a rationale for further development of this approach for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huafeng Wei
- International Joint Cancer Institute and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering and Antibody, The Second Military Medical Universit, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Vlahopoulos S, Gritzapis AD, Perez SA, Cacoullos N, Papamichail M, Baxevanis CN. Mannose addition by yeast Pichia Pastoris on recombinant HER-2 protein inhibits recognition by the monoclonal antibody herceptin. Vaccine 2009; 27:4704-8. [PMID: 19520203 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2008] [Revised: 05/11/2009] [Accepted: 05/21/2009] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
We report here the generation of a full-length, highly glycosylated HER-2 oncoprotein using yeast strain, Pichia Pastoris. Upon treatment of secreted HER-2 with alpha-mannosidase, reactivity with the monoclonal antibody Herceptin is significantly increased. This phenomenon is due to glycosylation via mannose of the full-length HER-2 protein that extends over the antigenic epitope, which is recognized by Herceptin. The extensive glycosylation of HER-2 in Pichia Pastoris significantly increases its recognition and uptake by dendritic cells, which could be associated with increased vaccine performance.
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Felicetti P, Mennecozzi M, Barucca A, Montgomery S, Orlandi F, Manova K, Houghton AN, Gregor PD, Concetti A, Venanzi FM. Tumor endothelial marker 8 enhances tumor immunity in conjunction with immunization against differentiation Ag. Cytotherapy 2008; 9:23-34. [PMID: 18236207 DOI: 10.1080/14653240601048369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have previously shown that xenogeneic DNA vaccines encoding rat neu and melanosomal differentiation Ag induce tumor immunity. Others have developed vaccines targeting tumor neovasculature. Tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8) is expressed in the neovasculature of human tumors, and in the mouse melanoma B16, but its expression is limited in normal adult tissues. We describe a DNA vaccine combining xenogeneic tumor Ag and TEM8. METHODS In-situ hybridization was used to detect TEM8 RNA in mouse tumors. Mice transgenic for the rat neu proto-oncogene were immunized with DNA vaccines encoding TEM8 and the extracellular domain of rat neu and challenged with the 233-VSGA1 breast cancer cell line. In parallel experiments, C57BL/6 mice were immunized with TEM8 and human tyrosinase-related protein 1 (hTYRP1/hgp75) and challenged with B16F10 melanoma. RESULTS TEM8 was expressed in the stroma of transplantable mouse breast and melanoma tumors. In both model systems, TEM8 DNA had no activity as a single agent but significantly enhanced the anti-tumor immunity of neu and hTYRP1/hgp75 DNA vaccines when given in concert. The observed synergy was dependent upon CD8+ T cells, as depletion of this cell population just prior to tumor challenge obviated the effect of the TEM8 vaccine in both tumor models. DISCUSSION A local immune response to TEM8 may increase inflammation or tumor necrosis within the tumor, resulting in improved Ag presentation of HER2/neu and hTYRP1/hgp75. Alternatively, TEM8 expression in host APC may alter T-cell interactions or homing. In this way, TEM8 may act more as an adjuvant than an immunologic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Felicetti
- Swim Across America Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
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Voutsas IF, Gritzapis AD, Mahaira LG, Salagianni M, Hofe EV, Kallinteris NL, Baxevanis CN. Induction of potent CD4+ T cell-mediated antitumor responses by a helper HER-2/neu peptide linked to the Ii-Key moiety of the invariant chain. Int J Cancer 2007; 121:2031-2041. [PMID: 17634957 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The Ii-Key fragment from the MHC class II-associated invariant chain (or Ii protein) has been shown to facilitate direct charging of MHC class II epitopes to the peptide binding groove. The purpose of the present study was to test the potential of a series of Ii-Key/HER-2/neu776-790 hybrid peptides to generate increased frequencies of peptide-specific CD4+ T cells over the native peptide in mice transgenic (Tg) for a chimeric human mouse class II molecule (DR4-IE) (H-2b) as well as their antitumor potency. Following in vivo priming, such hybrid peptides induced increased proliferation and frequencies of IFN-gamma producing CD4+ T cells in response to either syngeneic dendritic cells pulsed with native peptide, or HLA-DR4+ human tumor cell lines expressing HER-2/neu. Hybrid peptides were more stable in an off-rate kinetics assay compared to the native peptide. In addition, antigen-specific CD4+ T cells from hybrid peptide immunized DR4-IE Tg mice synergized with HER-2/neu(435-443)-specific CD8+ T cells from HLA-A2.1 Tg HHD (H-2b) mice in producing antitumor immunity into SCID mice xenografted with the HER-2/neu+, HLA-A2.1+ and HLA-DR4+ FM3 human melanoma cell line. High proportions of these adoptively transferred HER-2/neu peptide-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells infiltrated FM3-induced tumors (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes; TIL) in SCID mice. CD8+ TIL exhibited long-lasting antitumor activity when cotransferred with CD4+ TIL, inducing regression of FM3 tumors in a group of untreated, tumor-bearing SCID mice, following adoptive transfer. Our data show that Ii-Key modified HER-2/neu776-790 hybrid peptides are sufficiently potent to provide antigen-specific CD4+ TH cells with therapeutic antitumor activity.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/metabolism
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/cytology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Proliferation
- Cells, Cultured
- Dendritic Cells/immunology
- Dendritic Cells/metabolism
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/chemistry
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/genetics
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/immunology
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/metabolism
- Humans
- Kinetics
- Mice
- Mice, SCID
- Mice, Transgenic
- Neoplasms/immunology
- Neoplasms/metabolism
- Neoplasms/pathology
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/immunology
- Peptide Fragments/metabolism
- Protein Binding
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/cytology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/metabolism
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis F Voutsas
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Angelos D Gritzapis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Louisa G Mahaira
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Salagianni
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Eric von Hofe
- Antigen Express Inc., Biotech III, One Innovation Drive, Worcester, MA
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16
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Yo YT, Hsu KF, Shieh GS, Lo CW, Chang CC, Wu CL, Shiau AL. Coexpression of Flt3 ligand and GM-CSF genes modulates immune responses induced by HER2/neu DNA vaccine. Cancer Gene Ther 2007; 14:904-17. [PMID: 17704754 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7701081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
DNA vaccine and dendritic cells (DCs)-based vaccine have emerged as promising strategies for cancer immunotherapy. Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3-ligand (Flt3L) and granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) have been exploited for the expansion of DC. It was reported previously that combination of plasmid encoding GM-CSF with HER2/neu DNA vaccine induced predominantly CD4(+) T-cell-mediated antitumor immune response. In this study, we investigated the modulation of immune responses by murine Flt3L and GM-CSF, which acted as genetic adjuvants in the forms of bicistronic (pFLAG) and monocistronic (pFL and pGM) plasmids for HER2/neu DNA vaccine (pN-neu). Coexpression of Flt3L and GM-CSF significantly enhanced maturation and antigen-presentation abilities of splenic DC. Increased numbers of infiltrating DC at the immunization site, higher interferon-gamma production, and enhanced cytolytic activities by splenocytes were prominent in mice vaccinated with pN-neu in conjunction with pFLAG. Importantly, a potent CD8(+) T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity against bladder tumors naturally overexpressing HER2/neu was induced in the vaccinated mice. Collectively, our results indicate that murine Flt3L and GM-CSF genes coexpressed by a bicistronic plasmid modulate the class of immune responses and may be superior to those codelivered by two separate monocistronic plasmids as the genetic adjuvants for HER2/neu DNA vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y-T Yo
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan
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17
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Mohanty K, Saha A, Pal S, Mallick P, Chatterjee SK, Foon KA, Bhattacharya-Chatterjee M. Anti-tumor immunity induced by an anti-idiotype antibody mimicking human Her-2/neu. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2006; 104:1-11. [PMID: 17004107 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-006-9391-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2006] [Accepted: 08/22/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Our goal is to apply an anti-idiotype (Id) antibody based vaccine approach for the treatment of Her-2/neu-positive human cancer. Amplification and/or over-expression of Her-2/neu occur in multiple human malignancies and are associated with poor prognosis. Her-2/neu proto-oncogene is a suitable target for cancer immunotherapy. We have developed and characterized a murine monoclonal anti-Id antibody, 6D12 that mimics a specific epitope of Her-2/neu and can be used as a surrogate antigen for Her-2/neu. In this study, the efficacy of 6D12 as a tumor vaccine was evaluated in a murine tumor model. Immunization of immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice with 6D12 conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and mixed with Freund's adjuvant or 6D12 combined with the adjuvant QS21 induced anti-6D12 as well as anti-Her-2/neu immunity. Her-2/neu-positive human breast carcinoma cells, SK-BR-3 reacted with immunized mice sera as determined by ELISA and flow cytometry. Flow cytometry analysis also demonstrated strong reactivity of immunized mice sera with human Her-2/neu transfected EL4 cells (EL4-Her-2), but no reactivity with nontransfected parental EL4 cells. Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity against EL4-Her-2 cells was also observed in presence of immune sera. Mice immunized with 6D12 were protected against a challenge with lethal doses of EL4-Her-2 cells, whereas no protection was observed against parental EL4 cells or when mice were immunized with an unrelated anti-Id antibody and challenged with EL4-Her-2 cells. These data suggest that anti-Id 6D12 vaccine can induce protective Her-2/neu specific antitumor immunity and may serve as a potential network antigen for the treatment of patients with Her-2/neu-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik Mohanty
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, The Vontz Center for Molecular Studies, 3125 Eden Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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18
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Abstract
Significant progress made in the field of tumor immunology by the characterization of a large number of tumor antigens, and the better understanding of the mechanisms preventing immune responses to malignancies has led to the extensive study of cancer immunization approaches such as DNA vaccines encoding tumor antigens. This article reviews major aspects of DNA immunization in cancer. It gives a brief history and then discusses the proposed mechanism of action, preclinical and clinical studies, and methods of enhancing the immune responses induced by DNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodica Stan
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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19
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Chan T, Sami A, El-Gayed A, Guo X, Xiang J. HER-2/neu-gene engineered dendritic cell vaccine stimulates stronger HER-2/neu-specific immune responses compared to DNA vaccination. Gene Ther 2006; 13:1391-402. [PMID: 16724093 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3302797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
HER-2/neu is a candidate for developing breast cancer-targeted immunotherapeutics. Although DNA-based and HER-2/neu transgene-modified dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines are potent at eliciting HER-2/neu-specific antitumor immunity, there has been no side-by-side study comparing them directly. The present study utilizes an in vivo murine tumor model expressing HER-2/neu antigen to compare the efficacy between adenovirus (AdVneu)-transfected dendritic cells (DC(neu)) and plasmid DNA (pcDNAneu) vaccine. Our data showed that DC(neu) upregulated the expression of immunologically important molecules and inflammatory cytokines and partially converted regulatory T (Tr)-cell suppression through interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion. Vaccination of DC(neu) induced stronger HER-2/neu-specific humoral and cellular immune responses than DNA vaccination, which downregulated HER-2/neu expression and lysed HER-2/neu-positive tumor cells in vitro, respectively. In two HER-2/neu-expressing tumor models, DC(neu) completely protected mice from tumor cell challenge compared to partial or no protection observed in DNA-immunized mice. In addition, DC(neu) significantly delayed breast cancer development in transgenic mice in comparison to DNA vaccine (P<0.05). Taken together, we have demonstrated that HER-2/neu-gene-modified DC vaccine is more potent than DNA vaccine in both protective and preventive animal tumor models. Therefore, DCs genetically engineered to express tumor antigens such as HER-2/neu represent a new direction in DC vaccine of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Chan
- Cancer Research Unit, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, University of Saskatchewan, 20 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 4H4
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20
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Smorlesi A, Papalini F, Amici A, Orlando F, Pierpaoli S, Mancini C, Provinciali M. Evaluation of different plasmid DNA delivery systems for immunization against HER2/neu in a transgenic murine model of mammary carcinoma. Vaccine 2006; 24:1766-75. [PMID: 16288939 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2005] [Revised: 09/15/2005] [Accepted: 10/10/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Studies of DNA vaccination against HER2/neu showed the effectiveness of immunization protocols in models of transplantable or spontaneous tumors; scarce information, however, has been provided to identify the procedure of DNA administration that more effectively contributes to the activation of immune system against spontaneously arising HER2/neu-positive tumors. We compared the effectiveness of different procedures of DNA vaccine delivery (intradermic injection (ID), gene gun (GG) delivery and intramuscular injection (IM) alone or with electroporation) in a murine transgenic model of mammary carcinoma overexpressing HER2/neu. We highlighted the role of DNA delivery system in the success of DNA vaccination showing that, among the analysed methods, intramuscular injection of the vaccine, particularly when associated to electroporation, elicits a better protection against HER2/neu spontaneous tumor development inducing antibody and cell-mediated immune responsiveness against HER2/neu and a Th1 polarization of the immune response.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neoplasm/blood
- Biolistics
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cytokines/analysis
- Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
- Disease Models, Animal
- Electroporation
- Female
- Genes, erbB-2
- Immunization, Passive
- Injections, Intradermal
- Injections, Intramuscular
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/prevention & control
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Plasmids
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Smorlesi
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Immunology Center, INRCA Gerontology Research Department, Via Birarelli 8, 60121 Ancona, Italy
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21
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Nikou KN, Stivaktakis N, Avgoustakis K, Sotiropoulou PA, Perez SA, Baxevanis CN, Papamichail M, Leondiadis L. A HER-2/neu peptide admixed with PLA microspheres induces a Th1-biased immune response in mice. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2005; 1725:182-9. [PMID: 16126344 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2005.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2005] [Revised: 07/13/2005] [Accepted: 07/14/2005] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The elimination of cancer cells requires strong cellular immune responses, and these responses are induced by the activation of Th1 lymphocytes. In this work, the possibility of inducing a Th1 type of immune response in vivo by mixing a HER-2/neu synthetic CTL (cytotoxic T lymphocyte) peptide [HER-2/neu (789-797)], with poly-lactide (PLA) microspheres was investigated. Various formulations of the peptide were administered to HLA-A2.1 transgenic (HHD) mice. Cellular experiments, assessing proliferation and cytokine determination in splenocyte culture supernatants, were carried out in order to evaluate the type of immune response to the antigen. The in vivo administration of the peptide antigen admixed with the PLA microspheres induced a potent immune response which was comparable to that induced by the combination of the antigen in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Furthermore, the cytokine profile produced by the T lymphocytes of the immunized animals indicated that the combination of the peptide antigen with the PLA microspheres induced a strong Th1 biased immune response to the antigen. The time of peptide incubation with the microspheres prior to administration did not affect the immune response, which further simplifies the preparation of this type of vaccine. The results justify further investigation of the possibility of inducing effective cellular immune responses against cancer cells overexpressing HER-2/neu molecules by simply mixing appropriate HER-2/neu peptide antigens with PLA microspheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina N Nikou
- Mass Spectrometry and Dioxin Analysis Laboratory, IRRP, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310 Athens, Greece
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22
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23
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Park JM, Terabe M, Sakai Y, Munasinghe J, Forni G, Morris JC, Berzofsky JA. Early role of CD4+ Th1 cells and antibodies in HER-2 adenovirus vaccine protection against autochthonous mammary carcinomas. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2005; 174:4228-36. [PMID: 15778385 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.174.7.4228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
HER-2 is an oncogenic tumor-associated Ag that is overexpressed in several human tumors including breast and ovarian cancer. The efficacy and mechanism of a HER-2-expressing recombinant adenoviral vaccine to protect against tumorigenesis was examined using HER-2 transgenic (BALB-neuT) mice, which develop spontaneous breast tumors in all 10 mammary glands, and also using a transplantable mouse tumor model. Vaccination beginning at 6-8 wk of age (through 19 wk of age) prevented development of spontaneous mammary tumors even after 50 wk, whereas the animals in the control groups had tumors in all mammary glands by 25 wk. Such long-term protection after the last boost has not been achieved previously in this transgenic mouse in which the oncogene is continuously spawning tumorigenesis. Using beta(2)-microglobulin-knockout, IFN-gamma-knockout, and B cell-deficient mice, CD4(+) and CD8(+) cell depletion, and Ab transfer studies, we show that induction of anti-HER-2/neu Abs are both necessary and sufficient for protection, and the IgG2a isotype is most effective. In contrast, CD8(+) T cells are not necessary at all, and CD4(+) T cells are necessary for only 36-48 h after immunization to provide help for B cells but not as effector cells. Equal protection in immunized mice deficient in FcgammaRI/III excluded an FcR-mediated mechanism. Anti-HER-2 serum not only inhibited growth of mammary tumor cell lines expressing HER-2 in vitro but also protected mice from tumors in vivo, suggesting a direct action of Ab on the tumor cells. Such a vaccine may provide Ab-mediated protection against HER-2-expressing breast cancers in humans.
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MESH Headings
- Adenoviridae
- Animals
- Antibody Formation/drug effects
- Antigens, Neoplasm/administration & dosage
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/therapeutic use
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cancer Vaccines/standards
- Female
- Immunoglobulin G
- Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/prevention & control
- Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/therapy
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Transgenic
- Neoplasm Transplantation/immunology
- Receptor, ErbB-2/administration & dosage
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Receptor, ErbB-2/therapeutic use
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Th1 Cells/immunology
- Time Factors
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Myun Park
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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24
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Mossman SP, Evans LS, Fang H, Staas J, Tice T, Raychaudhuri S, Grabstein KH, Cheever MA, Johnson ME. Development of a CTL vaccine for Her-2/neu using peptide-microspheres and adjuvants. Vaccine 2005; 23:3545-54. [PMID: 15855013 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.01.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2004] [Revised: 01/26/2005] [Accepted: 01/28/2005] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
With the ultimate goal of developing a therapeutic cancer vaccine, we encapsulated the Her-2/neu peptide p369-377 in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres. This formulation was found to effectively elicit CD8+ cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses in an HLA-A*0201 transgenic mouse model. In contrast, immunization with either peptide alone or peptide formulated in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) failed to elicit such CTL responses. Responses induced by the peptide-microsphere formulation were found to peak at approximately 6 weeks post-immunization, and were enhanced by delivering increased doses of peptide and with repeated administrations over time. Co-administration of the peptide-microspheres with adjuvants, including granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, MPL adjuvant and select synthetic Toll-Like Receptor 4 ligands, the aminoalkyl glucosaminide-4 phosphates, significantly augmented CTL responses. These studies provide important guidance for the design of human clinical trials of microsphere vaccines in terms of optimal peptide-microsphere formulation, vaccination regimen, vaccine dose, and adjuvant selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- S P Mossman
- Corixa Corporation, Suite 1100, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
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25
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Rohrbach F, Weth R, Kursar M, Sloots A, Mittrücker HW, Wels WS. Targeted Delivery of the ErbB2/HER2 Tumor Antigen to Professional APCs Results in Effective Antitumor Immunity. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2005; 174:5481-9. [PMID: 15843546 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.174.9.5481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Activation of T cells by professional APCs that present peptide epitopes of tumor-associated Ags is critical for the induction of cell-mediated immunity against tumors. To facilitate targeted delivery of the ErbB2 (HER2, neu) tumor Ag to APCs in vivo, we have generated chimeric proteins that contain the extracellular domain of CTLA-4 for binding to B7 molecules on the APC surface, which is genetically fused to a human ErbB2 fragment as an antigenic determinant. Bacterially expressed CTLA-4-ErbB2 fusion protein and a similar molecule harboring in addition the translocation domain of Pseudomonas exotoxin A as an endosome escape function displayed specific binding to B7-expressing cells, followed by protein internalization and intracellular degradation. Vaccination of BALB/c mice with the fusion proteins resulted in the induction of ErbB2-specific CD8(+) T cells and CTL-dependent protection from subsequent challenge with ErbB2-expressing but not ErbB2-negative murine renal carcinoma cells. In a therapeutic setting, injection of CTLA-4-ErbB2 protein vaccines caused rejection of established ErbB2-expressing tumors. Thereby, immunological memory was induced, leading to long-term systemic immunity and protection against rechallenge several months later. Our results demonstrate that these chimeric protein vaccines are effective tools for the induction of ErbB2-specific, T cell-mediated immunity.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigen Presentation/genetics
- Antigen-Presenting Cells/immunology
- Antigen-Presenting Cells/metabolism
- Antigens, CD
- Antigens, Differentiation/administration & dosage
- Antigens, Differentiation/biosynthesis
- Antigens, Differentiation/genetics
- Antigens, Differentiation/metabolism
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CTLA-4 Antigen
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/genetics
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cancer Vaccines/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/genetics
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/immunology
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/therapy
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Escherichia coli/genetics
- Escherichia coli/immunology
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/immunology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/immunology
- Gene Targeting/methods
- Humans
- Lymphocyte Activation/genetics
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Protein Binding/genetics
- Protein Binding/immunology
- Receptor, ErbB-2/administration & dosage
- Receptor, ErbB-2/biosynthesis
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/biosynthesis
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Vaccines, DNA/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Rohrbach
- Chemotherapeutisches Forschungsinstitut Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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26
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Schramm H. Comparison of the impact of pro- and antiinflammatory immune processes at the two immune-deviated sites, eye and solid tumor and possible consequences for the antitumoral therapy with fever inducers. Complement Med Res 2005; 12:37-46. [PMID: 15772461 DOI: 10.1159/000082828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Findings from various epidemiological studies suggest that acute inflammation and fever may decrease the risk of developing certain types of cancer. In an established tumor situation acute inflammation and fever resulted in tumor regression in some cases, however, treatment was sometimes ineffective or even deleterious. It has been suggested that chronic inflammation contributes to carcinogenesis and in an established tumor situation to malignancy. In order to better understand the role of acute inflammation and fever in the treatment of cancer, we compare some of the current knowledge about the effects of pro- and antiinflammatory immunological processes in the two immune-deviated sites, eye and cancer. Striking similarities between these two sites have been demonstrated. The knowledge gained in experimental studies abrogating immune privilege in the eye could provide insights into the inconsistent results of proinflammatory cancer therapy. The eye could be used as a model to develop hypotheses on how to abolish the immunological tolerance state of a solid tumor and make it susceptible to immunological destruction. The immune privilege of the eye is abrogated, at least transiently, in the initial stages of tissue- or organ-specific cellular autoimmune responses and this effect is possibly supported by complement- fixing/proinflammatory antibodies. An overview of possible consequences for the tumor therapy especially in connection with inflammation and fever inducers such as bacterial vaccines or mistletoe preparations, which are therapeutically used to interfere with the privileged immune state of the tumor, is given.
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27
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Pupa SM, Iezzi M, Di Carlo E, Invernizzi A, Cavallo F, Meazza R, Comes A, Ferrini S, Musiani P, Ménard S. Inhibition of Mammary Carcinoma Development in HER-2/ neu Transgenic Mice through Induction of Autoimmunity by Xenogeneic DNA Vaccination. Cancer Res 2005. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.1071.65.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Plasmid DNA vectors encoding the full-length (VR1012/HER-2-FL) or only the extracellular and transmembrane domains (VR1012/HER-2-ECD-TM) of human (h) HER-2/neu proto-oncogene were used to vaccinate HER-2/neu transgenic mice (N202) engineered to overexpress the rat (r) neu proto-oncogene product (r-p185neu). Both the full-length and the deleted vaccines were significantly (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.06, respectively) more active than the empty vector (VR1012/EV) in preventing and delaying HER-2/neu-driven mammary carcinogenesis. A low-level intratumoral infiltrate of dendritic cells, macrophages, CD8 T cells and polymorphonuclear granulocytes in association with low-level cytokine production was observed, which was not detected in tumors from control mice. Morphologic analyses showed that vaccination with VR1012/HER-2-FL or ECD-TM also efficiently hampered the development of terminal ductal lobular units (TDLU). Analyses of sera from vaccinated mice revealed high titers of antihuman HER-2/neu antibodies, which correlated with the delayed time of tumor onset (P = 0.002). These antibodies did not cross-react with r-p185neu. Nontransgenic mice treated with the vaccines produced autoreactive antibodies targeting mouse (m)-p185neu and showed impaired function of the lactating mammary gland and accelerated involution of the gland after weaning. Together, these data indicate that xenogeneic DNA immunization breaks tolerance against the endogenous m-p185neu, impairing the development of mammary TDLU in which m-p185neu expression is concentrated. The reduction in the number of TDLU decreases the number of glandular structures available for r-p185neu-dependent mammary carcinogenesis, resulting in a significant inhibition of mammary carcinoma development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serenella M. Pupa
- 1Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Iezzi
- 2Aging Research Center, CeSi, G. d'Annunzio University Foundation
- 3Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, “G. D'Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Emma Di Carlo
- 2Aging Research Center, CeSi, G. d'Annunzio University Foundation
- 3Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, “G. D'Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy
| | - AnnaMaria Invernizzi
- 1Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Cavallo
- 4Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy; and
| | | | - Alberto Comes
- 6Immuno-pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvano Ferrini
- 6Immuno-pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy
| | - Piero Musiani
- 2Aging Research Center, CeSi, G. d'Annunzio University Foundation
- 3Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, “G. D'Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Sylvie Ménard
- 1Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
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28
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Wang X, Wang JP, Maughan MF, Lachman LB. Alphavirus replicon particles containing the gene for HER2/neu inhibit breast cancer growth and tumorigenesis. Breast Cancer Res 2004; 7:R145-55. [PMID: 15642163 PMCID: PMC1064108 DOI: 10.1186/bcr962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2004] [Revised: 09/09/2004] [Accepted: 10/13/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Overexpression of the HER2/neu gene in breast cancer is associated with an increased incidence of metastatic disease and with a poor prognosis. Although passive immunotherapy with the humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin) has shown some effect, a vaccine capable of inducing T-cell and humoral immunity could be more effective. Methods Virus-like replicon particles (VRP) of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus containing the gene for HER2/neu (VRP-neu) were tested by an active immunotherapeutic approach in tumor prevention models and in a metastasis prevention model. Results VRP-neu prevented or significantly inhibited the growth of HER2/neu-expressing murine breast cancer cells injected either into mammary tissue or intravenously. Vaccination with VRP-neu completely prevented tumor formation in and death of MMTV-c-neu transgenic mice, and resulted in high levels of neu-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes and serum IgG. Conclusion On the basis of these findings, clinical testing of this vaccine in patients with HER2/neu+ breast cancer is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Bioimmunotherapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jian-Ping Wang
- Department of Bioimmunotherapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Lawrence B Lachman
- Department of Bioimmunotherapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Schwaninger R, Waelti E, Zajac P, Wetterwald A, Mueller D, Gimmi CD. Virosomes as new carrier system for cancer vaccines. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2004; 53:1005-17. [PMID: 15185010 PMCID: PMC11032935 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-004-0545-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2003] [Accepted: 03/22/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
HER-2/neu, a tumor-associated antigen (TAAg), plays a critical role in oncogenesis of various tumor types, and its selective overexpression by malignant tumor cells makes it an ideal target for immunotherapy. A prerequisite for clinical vaccines is the construction of safe and highly immunogenic reagents able to generate efficient immune responses against TAAg. Previous protein vaccines, consisting of the extracellular domain of HER-2/neu (pNeuECD), were shown to elicit an immune response that did not provide protection from transplantable tumors expressing HER-2/neu. Here we showed that virosomes, which consist of reconstituted viral envelopes without viral genetic material, can act as a carrier and an adjuvant for a truncated protein pNeuECD. Mice vaccinated with pNeuECD either encapsulated in virosomes or bound to the virosomal membrane (Vir-pNeuECD), generated rNeu-specific humoral and cytotoxic immune responses. In addition, Vir-p(NeuECD) induced significant tumor rejection and additionally did not lead to delayed tumor formation when compared with free pNeuECD in complete Freund's adjuvant. There was no difference between the virosomal constructs. Taken together these results suggest that virosomes, as clinically approved safe vaccines, can be used to elicit both humoral and cell-mediated responses against TAAg and induce tumor rejection. Our model is providing important preclinical data to design human vaccination trials for patients with tumors overexpressing HER-2/neu, either as a primary vaccination or as a boost in combination with other vaccines in a context of an adjuvant treatment plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Schwaninger
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ernst Waelti
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Paul Zajac
- Research Department, Kantonsspital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Claude D. Gimmi
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Global Drug Development, Oncology, F. Hoffmann-LaRoche, PDM2, Grenzacherstrasse, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
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30
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Lin CC, Chou CW, Shiau AL, Tu CF, Ko TM, Chen YL, Yang BC, Tao MH, Lai MD. Therapeutic HER2/Neu DNA Vaccine Inhibits Mouse Tumor Naturally Overexpressing Endogenous Neu. Mol Ther 2004; 10:290-301. [PMID: 15294176 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2004.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2004] [Accepted: 05/10/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic efficacy of HER2/c-erbB-2/neu DNA immunization on mouse tumor cells expressing exogenous human or rat p185neu but not on mouse tumor cells naturally expressing mouse p185neu has been demonstrated. We investigated the feasibility of using N-terminal rat neu DNA immunization on mouse tumor overexpressing endogenous p185neu and enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of this vaccine by fusion to various cytokine genes, including interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. In a therapeutic model, N'-neu-IL-2 DNA vaccine was significantly better than N'-neu DNA vaccine, and N'-neu DNA vaccine was significantly better than control DNA or N'-neu-IL-4 DNA vaccine. The therapeutic efficacy of DNA vaccines was correlated with tumor infiltration of CD8+ T cells. Depletion of CD8+ T cells completely abolished the therapeutic effects of N'-neu-IL-2 DNA vaccine and N'-neu DNA vaccine. Depletion of CD4+ T cells after tumor implantation had no influence on N'-neu-IL-2 DNA vaccine, but enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of N'-neu DNA vaccine. Our results demonstrate that rat N'-neu DNA vaccine has a therapeutic effect on established tumor through the CD8+ T-cell-dependent pathway. Depletion of CD4+ T cells or fusion to the IL-2 gene can thus further enhance the therapeutic effects of N'-neu DNA immunization on mouse tumor expressing endogenous p185neu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chen Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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31
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Disis ML, Schiffman K, Guthrie K, Salazar LG, Knutson KL, Goodell V, dela Rosa C, Cheever MA. Effect of Dose on Immune Response in Patients Vaccinated With an HER-2/neu Intracellular Domain Protein—Based Vaccine. J Clin Oncol 2004; 22:1916-25. [PMID: 15143085 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2004.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the safety of an HER-2/neu intracellular domain (ICD) protein vaccine and to estimate whether vaccine dose impacts immunogenicity. Patients and Methods Twenty-nine patients with HER-2/neu—overexpressing breast or ovarian cancer and with no evidence of disease after standard therapy received a low- (25 μg), intermediate- (150 μg), or high-dose (900 μg) HER-2/neu ICD protein vaccine. The vaccine was administered intradermally, monthly for 6 months, with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor as an adjuvant. Toxicity and both cellular and humoral HER-2/neu—specific immunity was evaluated. Results The vaccine was well tolerated. The majority of patients (89%) developed HER-2/neu ICD-specific T-cell immunity. The dose of vaccine did not predict the magnitude of the T-cell response. The majority of patients (82%) also developed HER-2/neu—specific immunoglobulin G antibody immunity. Vaccine dose did not predict magnitude or avidity of the HER-2/neu—specific humoral immune response. Time to development of detectable HER-2/neu—specific immunity, however, was significantly earlier for the high- versus low-dose vaccine group (P = .003). Over half the patients retained HER-2/neu—specific T-cell immunity 9 to 12 months after immunizations had ended. Conclusion The HER-2/neu ICD protein vaccine was well tolerated and effective in eliciting HER-2/neu—specific T-cell and antibody immunity in the majority of breast and ovarian cancer patients who completed the vaccine regimen. Although the dose of vaccine did not impact the magnitude of T-cell or antibody immunity elicited, patients receiving the highest dose developed HER-2/neu—specific immunity more rapidly than those who received the lowest dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary L Disis
- Tumor Vaccine Group, Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-6527, USA.
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32
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Srinivasan R, Wolchok JD. Tumor antigens for cancer immunotherapy: therapeutic potential of xenogeneic DNA vaccines. J Transl Med 2004; 2:12. [PMID: 15090064 PMCID: PMC419720 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-2-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2004] [Accepted: 04/16/2004] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical animal studies have convincingly demonstrated that tumor immunity to self antigens can be actively induced and can translate into an effective anti-tumor response. Several of these observations are being tested in clinical trials. Immunization with xenogeneic DNA is an attractive approach to treat cancer since it generates T cell and antibody responses. When working in concert, these mechanisms may improve the efficacy of vaccines. The use of xenogeneic DNA in overcoming immune tolerance has been promising not only in inbred mice with transplanted tumors but also in outbred canines, which present with spontaneous tumors, as in the case of human. Use of this strategy also overcomes limitations seen in other types of cancer vaccines. Immunization against defined tumor antigens using a xenogeneic DNA vaccine is currently being tested in early phase clinical trials for the treatment of melanoma and prostate cancers, with proposed trials for breast cancer and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roopa Srinivasan
- Division of Tumor Immunology, Dept. of Research, CancerVaxCorporation, 2110 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA
| | - Jedd D Wolchok
- Swim Across America Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
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33
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Eralp Y, Wang X, Wang JP, Maughan MF, Polo JM, Lachman LB. Doxorubicin and paclitaxel enhance the antitumor efficacy of vaccines directed against HER 2/neu in a murine mammary carcinoma model. Breast Cancer Res 2004; 6:R275-83. [PMID: 15217493 PMCID: PMC468620 DOI: 10.1186/bcr787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2004] [Revised: 02/26/2004] [Accepted: 03/11/2004] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The purpose of the present study was to determine whether cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents administered prior to immunotherapy with gene vaccines could augment the efficacy of the vaccines. Methods Mice were injected in the mammary fat pad with an aggressive breast tumor cell line that expresses HER2/neu. The mice were treated 3 days later with a noncurative dose of either doxorubicin or paclitaxel, and the following day with a gene vaccine to HER2/neu. Two more doses of vaccine were given 14 days apart. Two types of gene vaccines were tested: a plasmid vaccine encoding a self-replicating RNA (replicon) of Sindbis virus (SINCP), in which the viral structural proteins were replaced by the gene for neu; and a viral replicon particle derived from an attenuated strain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, containing a replicon RNA in which the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus structural proteins were replaced by the gene for neu. Results Neither vaccination alone nor chemotherapy alone significantly reduced the growth of the mammary carcinoma. In contrast, chemotherapy followed by vaccination reduced tumor growth by a small, but significant amount. Antigen-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes were induced by the combined treatment, indicating that the control of tumor growth was most probably due to an immunological mechanism. The results demonstrated that doxorubicin and paclitaxel, commonly used chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of breast cancer, when used at immunomodulating doses augmented the antitumor efficacy of gene vaccines directed against HER2/neu. Conclusions The combination of chemotherapeutic agents plus vaccine immunotherapy may induce a tumor-specific immune response that could be beneficial for the adjuvant treatment of patients with minimal residual disease. The regimen warrants further evaluation in a clinical setting.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, Neoplasm/therapeutic use
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Breast Neoplasms/immunology
- Breast Neoplasms/therapy
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/therapeutic use
- Carcinoma/drug therapy
- Carcinoma/immunology
- Carcinoma/therapy
- Cell Line
- Combined Modality Therapy/methods
- Combined Modality Therapy/trends
- Disease Models, Animal
- Doxorubicin/administration & dosage
- Doxorubicin/therapeutic use
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Epitopes/physiology
- Female
- Humans
- Interferon-gamma/metabolism
- Lymphocyte Activation/physiology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/drug therapy
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/therapy
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Paclitaxel/administration & dosage
- Paclitaxel/therapeutic use
- Receptor, ErbB-2/therapeutic use
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/physiology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/physiology
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/therapeutic use
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesim Eralp
- Department of Bioimmunotherapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Current address: University of Istanbul, Institute of Oncology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Bioimmunotherapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jian-Ping Wang
- Department of Bioimmunotherapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - John M Polo
- Chiron Corporation, Emeryville, California, USA
| | - Lawrence B Lachman
- Department of Bioimmunotherapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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34
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Lindencrona JA, Preiss S, Kammertoens T, Schüler T, Piechocki M, Wei WZ, Seliger B, Blankenstein T, Kiessling R. CD4+ T cell-mediated HER-2/neu-specific tumor rejection in the absence of B cells. Int J Cancer 2004; 109:259-64. [PMID: 14750178 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.11654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
HER-2/neu (HER-2) is a cell surface proto-oncogene that is often overexpressed in carcinomas. Passive administration of anti-HER-2 antibodies in breast cancer patients has achieved promising results, but less is known about the role of antibodies in active immunization. We asked whether B cells/antibodies are needed for tumor immunity induced by plasmid (HER-2 and GM-CSF) immunization. HER-2 specific tumor immunity relied completely on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. IFN-gamma, and to a lesser extent IL-4, seemed to be crucial cytokines during tumor rejection. Protection was associated with production of anti-HER-2 IgG antibodies in B cell competent mice. After immunization, however, B cell-deficient mice rejected HER-2-expressing tumors as efficiently as control littermates. We conclude that T cells are the main effector cells in DNA vaccine induced immunity against HER-2 and that anti HER-2 antibodies are not necessary to elicit a protective anti tumor immune response in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Alvar Lindencrona
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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35
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Nelson EL, Prieto D, Alexander TG, Pushko P, Lofts LA, Rayner JO, Kamrud KI, Fralish B, Smith JF. Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Replicon Immunization Overcomes Intrinsic Tolerance and Elicits Effective Anti-tumor Immunity to the ‘Self’ tumor-associated antigen, neu in a Rat Mammary Tumor Model. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2003; 82:169-83. [PMID: 14703064 DOI: 10.1023/b:brea.0000004373.09678.bb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Many tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) represent 'self' antigens and as such, are subject to the constraints of immunologic tolerance. There are significant barriers to eliciting anti-tumor immune responses of sufficient magnitude. We have taken advantage of a Venezuelan equine encephalitis-derived alphavirus replicon vector system with documented in vivo tropism for immune system dendritic cells. We have overcome the intrinsic tolerance to the 'self' TAA rat neu and elicited an effective anti-tumor immune response using this alphavirus replicon vector system and a designed target antigen in a rigorous rat mammary tumor model. We have demonstrated the capacity to generate 50% protection in tumor challenge experiments (p = 0.004) and we have confirmed the establishment of immunologic memory by both second tumor challenge and Winn Assay (p = 0.009). Minor antibody responses were identified and supported the establishment of T helper type 1 (Th1) anti-tumor immune responses by isotype. Animals surviving in excess of 300 days with established effective anti-tumor immunity showed no signs of autoimmune phenomena. Together these experiments support the establishment of T lymphocyte dependent, Th1-biased anti-tumor immune responses to a non-mutated 'self' TAA in an aggressive tumor model. Importantly, this tumor model is subject to the constraints of immunologic tolerance present in animals with normal developmental, temporal, and anatomical expression of a non-mutated TAA. These data support the continued development and potential clinical application of this alphaviral replicon vector system and the use of appropriately designed target antigen sequences for anti-tumor immunotherapy.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine/genetics
- Female
- Genetic Vectors/immunology
- Genetic Vectors/therapeutic use
- Humans
- Immunization
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/therapy
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Neoplasm Proteins/immunology
- Rats
- Rats, Inbred F344
- Receptor, ErbB-2/chemistry
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Replicon/immunology
- Self Tolerance
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward L Nelson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 97697-4060, USA.
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36
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Renard V, Sonderbye L, Ebbehøj K, Rasmussen PB, Gregorius K, Gottschalk T, Mouritsen S, Gautam A, Leach DR. HER-2 DNA and protein vaccines containing potent Th cell epitopes induce distinct protective and therapeutic antitumor responses in HER-2 transgenic mice. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2003; 171:1588-95. [PMID: 12874253 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.171.3.1588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of the growth factor receptor HER-2 (c-erbB-2, neu) has transforming potential and occurs in approximately 20-30% of breast and ovarian cancers. HER-2 is a self Ag, but Abs and T cells specific for HER-2 have been isolated from cancer patients, suggesting HER-2 may be a good target for active immunotherapy. We constructed rat HER-2 DNA and protein vaccines containing potent Th cell epitopes derived from tetanus toxin and studied their potency in two strains of mice transgenic for the rat HER-2 molecule. Vaccination with HER-2 DNA protected nontransgenic mice from tumor challenge, but induced only moderate protection in one of the tumor models. However, vaccination with the modified HER-2 protein resulted in almost complete protection from tumor challenge in both tumor models. This protection could be mediated by Abs alone. In addition, protein vaccination efficiently eliminated pre-established tumors in both models, even when vaccination occurred 9 days after tumor implantation. These data demonstrate the potential of HER-2-based vaccines as therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancers overexpressing HER-2.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antibody Specificity
- Antineoplastic Agents/immunology
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Cancer Vaccines/genetics
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cancer Vaccines/therapeutic use
- Crosses, Genetic
- Disease Models, Animal
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/therapeutic use
- Female
- Graft Rejection/genetics
- Graft Rejection/immunology
- Immune Tolerance/genetics
- Immunization, Passive
- Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse/genetics
- Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Transgenic
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Neoplasms, Experimental/therapy
- Rats
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Receptor, ErbB-2/therapeutic use
- T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/immunology
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Vaccines, DNA/therapeutic use
- Vaccines, Synthetic/genetics
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/therapeutic use
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37
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Abstract
Amplification or overexpression of the HER2/neu (also known as erbB-2) gene has been noted in various types of human cancers. In addition to malignant transformation, the activation of signaling pathways of HER2/neu enhances various metastasis-associated properties and may render cancer cells resistant to conventional therapies. This, at least partially, contributes to the poor prognosis and lower survival rate of patients. Many studies have demonstrated that repression of HER2/neu overexpression suppresses the malignant phenotypes of cancer cells. Therefore, various novel HER2/neu-blocking agents have been developed, several of which have been tested in clinical trials with satisfactory results, including trastuzumab, a HER2/neu monoclonal antibody that has been approved by the FDA in the treatment of HER2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer patients. In this article, we intend to discuss the biological relevance and significance of HER2/neu overexpression in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and resistance to conventional therapy. We also summarize the currently available strategies and combination therapies targeting HER2/neu-overexpressing cancer cells. Although the optimal treatment for HER2/neu-overexpressing cancer patients remains elusive, the initial success of trastuzumab indicates that HER2/neu is a good target for cancer therapy. Further elucidation of HER2/neu-mediated pathways and downstream molecules is critical to provide alternative therapies, overcome drug resistance, and improve the therapeutic outcome for HER2/neu-overexpressing cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Shing Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Unit 79, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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38
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Curcio C, Di Carlo E, Clynes R, Smyth MJ, Boggio K, Quaglino E, Spadaro M, Colombo MP, Amici A, Lollini PL, Musiani P, Forni G. Nonredundant roles of antibody, cytokines, and perforin in the eradication of established Her-2/neu carcinomas. J Clin Invest 2003. [DOI: 10.1172/jci200317426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
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Curcio C, Di Carlo E, Clynes R, Smyth MJ, Boggio K, Quaglino E, Spadaro M, Colombo MP, Amici A, Lollini PL, Musiani P, Forni G. Nonredundant roles of antibody, cytokines, and perforin in the eradication of established Her-2/neu carcinomas. J Clin Invest 2003; 111:1161-70. [PMID: 12697735 PMCID: PMC152940 DOI: 10.1172/jci17426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the mechanisms by which specific immunity destroys Her-2/neu carcinoma cells are highly undetermined, these were assessed in BALB/c mice vaccinated with plasmids encoding extracellular and transmembrane domains of the protein product (p185(neu)) of the rat Her-2/neu oncogene shot into the skin by gene gun. Vaccinated mice rejected a lethal challenge of TUBO carcinoma cells expressing p185(neu). Depletion of CD4 T cells during immunization abolished the protection, while depletion of CD8 cells during the effector phase halved it, and depletion of polymorphonuclear granulocytes abolished all protection. By contrast, Ig mu-chain gene KO mice, as well as Fcgamma receptor I/III, beta-2 microglobulin, CD1, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1), IFN-gamma, and perforin gene KO mice were protected. Only mice with both IFN-gamma and perforin gene KOs were not protected. Although immunization also cured all BALB/c mice bearing established TUBO carcinomas, it did not cure any of the perforin KO or perforin and IFN-gamma KO mice. Few mice were cured that had knockouts of the gene for Ig mu-chain, Fcgamma receptor I/III, IFN-gamma, or beta-2 microglobulin. Moreover, vaccination cured half of the CD1 and the majority of the MCP1 KO mice. The eradication of established p185(neu) carcinomas involves distinct mechanisms, each endowed with a different curative potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Curcio
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
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40
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Kiessling R, Wei WZ, Herrmann F, Lindencrona JA, Choudhury A, Kono K, Seliger B. Cellular immunity to the Her-2/neu protooncogene. Adv Cancer Res 2003; 85:101-44. [PMID: 12374283 DOI: 10.1016/s0065-230x(02)85004-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Her-2/neu (HER-2) is a 185-kDa receptor-like glycoprotein that is overexpressed by a variety of tumors such as breast, ovarian, gastric, and colorectal carcinomas. Overexpression of this oncogene is directly associated with malignant transformation of epithelial cells. The frequency of HER-2 overexpression varies among the different types of cancers, but universally represents a marker of poor prognosis. The critical role of HER-2 in epithelial oncogenesis as well as its selective overexpression on malignant tissues makes it an ideal target for immunotherapy. Antibodies and T cells reactive to HER-2 are known to naturally occur in patients with HER-2 positive tumors, confirming the immunogenicity of the molecule. Both antibodies as well as T cells reactive to HER-2 have been utilized for immunotherapy of HER-2 positive tumors. The "humanized" monoclonal antibody Herceptin has been tested in several clinical trials and found to be an effective adjuvant therapy for HER-2 positive breast and ovarian cancer patients. However, the frequency of patients responding to Herceptin is limited and a majority of patients initially responding to Herceptin develop resistance within a year of treatment. The use of vaccination strategies that generate T cell responses with or without accompanying antibody responses may serve to mitigate the problem. Various strategies for generating T cell-mediated responses against HER-2 are currently being examined in animal models or in clinical trials. The potential advantages of the various approaches to immunotherapy, their pitfalls, and the mechanisms by which HER-2 positive tumors can evade immune responses are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolf Kiessling
- Department of Oncology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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41
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Dela Cruz JS, Lau SY, Ramirez EM, De Giovanni C, Forni G, Morrison SL, Penichet ML. Protein vaccination with the HER2/neu extracellular domain plus anti-HER2/neu antibody-cytokine fusion proteins induces a protective anti-HER2/neu immune response in mice. Vaccine 2003; 21:1317-26. [PMID: 12615426 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(02)00741-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Previously protein vaccines consisting of the extracellular domain of HER2/neu (ECD(HER2)) were shown to elicit an immune response that does not provide protection against transplantable tumors expressing HER2/neu. Here, we showed that when mice were vaccinated with a mixture of human ECD(HER2) and anti-human HER2/neu IL-12, IL-2 or GM-CSF fusion proteins, significant retardation of the growth of a syngeneic carcinoma expressing rat HER2/neu, and long-term survivors were observed. Immune sera inhibited the in vitro growth of SK-BR-3, a human breast cancer overexpressing HER2/neu. Transfer of immune sera into mice challenged with TUBO also led to partial inhibition of tumor growth. Splenocytes from mice vaccinated with ECD(HER2) plus IgG3-(GM-CSF) incubated with ECD(HER2) demonstrated significant proliferation and IFN-gamma secretion. Taken together these results suggest that vaccines including ECD(HER2) and Ab-cytokine fusion proteins may be used to elicit both humoral and cell-mediated responses against HER2/neu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay S Dela Cruz
- Department of Microbiology, The Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles 90095-1489, USA
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42
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Lee JY, Kim DH, Chung Y, Shin SU, Kang CY. Comparison of the antitumor efficacies of Her-2/neu DNA vaccines inducing contrasting IgG immunity but comparable CTL activity in mice. Vaccine 2003; 21:521-31. [PMID: 12531652 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(02)00470-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The relative importance of CTL and antibodies in rejecting Her-2/neu-expressing tumors was evaluated in preventive and therapeutic models by DNA vaccination. Four human Her-2/neu-expressing plasmids (pNeu(TM), pNeu(ECD), pNeu(TM-gDs), and pNeu(ECD-gDs)) were generated encoding either the transmembrane and extracellular domains or the extracellular domain. Interestingly, these plasmids demonstrated substantial difference in inducing Her-2/neu-specific serum IgG according to their signal sequence when injected in BALB/c mice. pNeu(TM) and pNeu(ECD) induced high serum IgG titers. pNeu(TM-gDs) and pNeu(ECD-gDs) induced low or very low serum IgG titers, respectively. As a result, mice vaccinated with not only pNeu(ECD) but also pNeu(ECD-gDs) exhibited complete eradication of a small number of tumor cells. Nevertheless, when the number of tumor cells was increased in a therapeutic model, only pNeu(ECD) exhibited statistically significant antitumor immunity. These studies demonstrate that strong CTL may be sufficient in tumor prevention, but the collaboration of CTL and antibody may be required in tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Youb Lee
- Laboratory of Immunology, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul 151-742, South Korea
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Chen Z, Huang H, Chang T, Carlsen S, Saxena A, Marr R, Xing Z, Xiang J. Enhanced HER-2/neu-specific antitumor immunity by cotransduction of mouse dendritic cells with two genes encoding HER-2/neu and alpha tumor necrosis factor. Cancer Gene Ther 2002; 9:778-86. [PMID: 12189528 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2002] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The present study uses an in vivo murine tumor model expressing the human HER-2/neu antigen to evaluate the potential vaccine using dendritic cells (DCs) infected with adenovirus AdVHER-2. We first investigated whether infected DCs (DC(HER-2)) engineered to express HER-2/neu could induce HER-2/neu-specific immune responses. Our data showed that (i) AdVHER2-infected DC(HER-2) expressed HER-2/neu by Western blot and flow cytometric analysis, and (ii) vaccination of mice with DC(HER-2) induced HER-2/neu-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses, but protected only 25% of vaccinated mice from challenge of 3 x 10(5) MCA26/HER-2 tumor cells. Further, to enhance the efficacy of DC(HER-2) vaccine, we coinfected DCs with both AdVHER-2 and AdVTNF-alpha. The infected DCs (DC(HER-2/TNF-alpha)) displayed the expression of both HER-2/neu and TNF-alpha by flow cytometric and ELISA analysis. We next investigated whether DC(HER-2/TNF-alpha) could induce stronger HER-2/neu-specific immune responses. We found that DC(HER-2/TNF-alpha) displayed up-regulation of immunologically important CD40, CD86, and ICAM-I molecules compared with DC(HER-2), indicating that the former ones are more mature forms of DCs. Vaccination of DC(HER-2/TNF-alpha) induced stronger allogeneic T-cell proliferation and 36% enhanced HER-2/neu-specific T-cell responses in vitro than DC(HER-2) cells. More importantly, it stimulated the significant anti-HER-2/neu immunity in vivo, which protected 8/8 mice from challenge of 3 x 10(5) MCA26/HER-2 tumor cells. Therefore, DCs genetically engineered to express both the tumor antigen and cytokines such as TNF-alpha as an immunoadjuvant are likely to represent a new direction in DC vaccine of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Chen
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Research Unit, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Abstract
Increasingly, data from distinct experimental systems show that immunity can be activated to prevent tumors. The rationale for prevention is strong because, in that setting, one deals with an immune system that is neither impaired by tumor- and treatment-induced suppression nor tolerant to tumor-associated antigens that have been encountered in the absence of correct presentation and costimulatory/danger signals. The use of overexpressed or mutated proteins, or mutated oncogenic growth factor receptors, as tumor-associated antigens yields rational targets for specific immunoprevention. Transgenic mouse models are providing encouraging indications of future usefulness of vaccines that are based on these molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivera J Finn
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, W1142 Biomedical Science Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
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