Maximizing Immune Response to Carbohydrate Antigens on Breast Tumors
Abstract
Tumor antigens are autologous antigens and thus are weakly immunogenic. Unresponsiveness appears to be related to suppression of antigen specific helper T cell function which can be overcome by providing heterologous help. Carbohydrates are richly expressed on the surface of many cancers, at frequencies higher than oncogene products. Consequently, tumor associated carbohydrate antigens, are in principle, excellent targets for immunotherapy. However, carbohydrates are generally poor at eliciting effective antibody responses and rarely provide target epitopes for CTL because of their T cell-independent nature. The major objective of this application is to examine ways to maximize the tumor-protective immunity directed to carbohydrate antigens expressed on breast tumors. Towards this end we are developing peptide mimotopes of tumor associated carbohydrate antigens as they are T cell dependent antigens. In our progress to date we have shown the 1) immunization with peptide mimotope activates a specific cellular response to a model murine tumor cell line; 2) vaccination of mice with peptide eradicates established tumor; 3) Immunization with DNA format of the peptide suppresses tumor growth in further challenge; and 4) Induced immunity has a cellular nature as it is transferred to nude mice by transferring splenocytes from cured mice.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA421963
Entities
People
- Thomas Kieber-emmons
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania