Protection of mice against tumor growth by immunization with an oncogene-encoded growth factor.
The K-fgf/hst oncogene encodes a growth factor of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family that is secreted and transforms cells through a mechanism of autocrine cell proliferation. K-fgf-transformed cells are highly tumorigenic in immunocompetent allogeneic and syngeneic animals. BALB/c mice were immunized with a bacterial fusion protein consisting of a portion of the MS2 polymerase and of the human K-FGF precursor lacking only the first 4 amino acids or with a recombinant protein corresponding to the mature, secreted form of K-FGF (176 amino acids). They were then challenged with syngeneic K-fgf- or H-ras-transformed cells. Vaccinated animals exhibited a significant degree of protection against tumor induction, which was specific for K-fgf-transformed cells and correlated with the ability of the immunized mice to produce high titers of anti-K-FGF antibodies. Thus immunization with a single oncogene product can protect animals against tumor cells expressing this oncogene.
Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, NY 10016.
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Talarico
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Ittmann
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Balsari
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Delli-Bovi
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Basch
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Basilico
D000818:Animals; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; C496446:Fgf4 protein, mouse; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors