An N-, C-terminally truncated basic fibroblast growth factor and LPD (liposome-polycation-DNA) complexes elicits a protective immune response against murine colon carcinoma

Cancer Biol Ther. 2010 Aug 1;10(3):276-81. doi: 10.4161/cbt.10.3.12421. Epub 2010 Aug 20.

Abstract

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a mitogen for endothelial cells, which participates in tumor angiogenesis. Active immunity against bFGF could be a promising approach for the biotherapy of cancer. Because bFGF is abundant in normal and malignant tissues, it is presumably difficult for normal bFGF to induce immunity due to self-tolerance. In addition, previous studies have shown that a complex consisting of a cationic liposome and a non-coding plasmid DNA can be used to stimulate innate immunity. This stimulation initiates a potent cytokine response, which can inhibit tumor growth. To investigate the effects of immunity against bFGF on murine colon carcinomas, we employed an N-, C-terminally truncated basic fibroblast growth factor (tbFGF, of human origin) as an antigen and a liposome-DNA complex as an adjuvant. After six immunizations, a robust bFGF-specific immune response was elicited. Subsequently, inhibition of tumor growth and a significant reduction in tumor vasculature were observed. The antitumor effect was confirmed by adoptive therapy of activated spleen cells from the immunized mice. In vitro, a CTL assay revealed that bFGF-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) resulted in the lysis of mouse microvascular endothelial cells (MS1) rather than that of the CT26 colorectal cancer cells. These results suggest that anti-angiogenesis treatment induced by a bFGF-specific CTLs against microvascular endothelial cells may be a useful method for cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Cancer Vaccines / genetics
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Colonic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • DNA / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / administration & dosage
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / genetics
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / immunology*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology
  • Liposomes / administration & dosage
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Plasmids / genetics

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Liposomes
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • DNA