Targeting Mutated Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
Abstract
This project is aimed at developing specific and effective vaccines for immunotherapy of breast cancer. Mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (mEGF-R) is expressed on a high proportion of breast carcinoma lesions derived from various patients, but not on any normal tissues tested, and is targeted in these studies. The major goal is to develop a rat model of immunotherapy against mammary carcinoma targeting mEGF-R. In this model vaccines of mEGF-R (peptides, anti-idiotypic antibodies, recombinant antigen) are tested for their effects on established tumor growth. Towards these goals, rat mammary carcinoma cells were transfected with rat mEGF-R cDNA and characterized. The transfectants express mEGF-R protein and MHC class I and II antigens and are tumorigenic in syngeneic rats. To develop anti-idiotypic antibody and recombinant antigen vaccines of rat mEGF-R, recombinant rat mEGF-R protein was produced in baculovirus and characterized. Five peptides mimicking rat mEGF-R also were produced for vaccine purposes. Thus, the goals originally proposed for the first year of study have been fulfilled and the rat model can now be used to evaluate the potential of mEGF-R vaccines to induce humoral, cellular and protective immunity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA332562
Entities
People
- Dorothee M. Herlyn
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania