Complement and Immunotheraphy of Breast Cancer
Abstract
A humoral immune response to breast cancer cells is generally not therapeutically effective, likely due, at least in part, to overexpression of complement inhibitors expressed on tumor cell surfaces. Here we proposed to investigate two novel fusion proteins aimed at overcoming complement inhibition of breast tumor cells. During year one it was proposed to construct plasmids encoding MUC1 and MUC1-C3d; express and purify MUC1, MUC1-C3d and the recombinant fusion protein CR2-Fc; characterize CR2-Fc in vitro; and perform the MUC1 vaccination study. Construction and purification of MUC1 and MUC1-C3d and the MUC1 vaccination study has been achieved. A small, but significant, increase in the immune response was seen in mice vaccinated with MUC1-C3d. This indicates that C3d is functioning as an effective molecular adjuvant when linked to a tumor associated self antigen. Further experiments are needed to determine if this effect is protective and to possibly further increase the immune response if it is not. Technical difficulties have delayed expression and purification of mouse CR2-Fc, however efforts are underway to construct a new plasmid and in vitro characterization will proceed as soon as the problem is resolved.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA477661
Entities
People
- Michelle Rapisardo
- Stephen Tomlinson
Organizations
- Medical University of South Carolina