Induction of T cell-mediated immunity using a c-Myb DNA vaccine in a mouse model of colon cancer

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2008 Nov;57(11):1635-45. doi: 10.1007/s00262-008-0497-2. Epub 2008 Apr 3.

Abstract

Overexpression of the proto-oncogene c-Myb occurs in more than 80% of colorectal cancer (CRC) and is associated with aggressive disease and poor prognosis. To test c-Myb as a therapeutic target in CRC we devised a DNA fusion vaccine to generate an anti-CRC immune response. c-Myb, like many tumor antigens, is weakly immunogenic as it is a "self" antigen and subject to tolerance. To break tolerance, a DNA fusion vaccine was generated comprising wild-type c-Myb cDNA flanked by two potent Th epitopes derived from tetanus toxin. Vaccination was performed targeting a highly aggressive, weakly immunogenic, subcutaneous, syngeneic, colon adenocarcinoma cell line MC38 which highly expresses c-Myb. Prophylactic intravenous vaccination significantly suppressed tumor growth, through the induction of anti-tumor immunity for which the tetanus epitopes were essential. Vaccination generated anti-tumor immunity mediated by both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and increased infiltration of immune effector cells at the tumor site. Importantly, no evidence of autoimmune pathology in endogenous c-Myb expressing tissues was detected as a consequence of breaking tolerance. In summary, these results establish c-Myb as a potential antigen for immune targeting in CRC and serve to provide proof of principle for the continuing development of DNA vaccines targeting c-Myb to bring this approach to the clinic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / immunology
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bone Marrow / immunology
  • Bone Marrow / metabolism
  • Cancer Vaccines / genetics
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colonic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Genes, MHC Class I / physiology
  • Genes, myb / genetics*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunity
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / immunology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Survival Rate
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Tetanus Toxin / genetics
  • Tetanus Toxin / immunology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines, DNA / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • MAS1 protein, human
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Tetanus Toxin
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins