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 the growth of established rat mammary carcinoma cells expressing rat and human mEGF-R. During the first year of funding, rat mammary carcinoma cells transfected with rat mEGF-R cDNA, recombinant baculovirus-derived rat and human mEGF-R protein and five mEGF-R peptides were produced and characterized. While the recombinant proteins and the peptides expressed the mutated epitope, this epitope was absent on the transfectants. During the past (second) year of funding, our efforts focused on the isolation of transfectants expressing the mutated epitope. Furthermore, recombinant adenovirus expressing mEGF-R were produced. Initial immunizations of rats with mEGF-R protein or peptides demonstrated the induction of specific antibodies reactive with the mutated protein.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA371205
Entities
People
- Dorothee M. Herlyn
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania