The Use of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Replicons Encoding the Her-2/neu Tumor Associated Antigen for the Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer
Abstract
Much of the work described for Specific Aim 1 has now been completed. We have finished the in vitro testing and packaging of the replicon constructs described, and have begun work on additional constructs. Progress has been made characterizing the CD8+ T cell response in both wild type and Her-2/neu transgenic mice with generation of consistent CTL activity in the wild type mice. Additionally, we have cloned overlapping fragments of the Her-2/neu gene into a bacterial expression system, and demonstrated a proliferative response to one of the recombinant proteins. These fragments will be used to evaluate CD4+ T helper responses in immunized mice. We believe an immunotherapeutic protocol consisting of the appropriate combination and antigen and cytokine encoding repticons will be useful for overcoming the tolerance associated with the Her-2/neu transgenic mice. In our initial tumor challenge experiment with replicons encoding Mer-2/neu alone, we failed to mediate rejection of transferred Neu expressing tumors in Her-2/neu transgenic mice. Again, we feel it will be a matter of determining the appropriate cytokine encoding constructs for use in our protocol.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA394013
Entities
People
- Brian R. Long
- Roland M. Tisch
Organizations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill