Reduced melanoma tumor formation in mice immunized with DNA expressing the melanoma-specific antigen gp100/pmel17.
Plasmid DNA encoding gene products of viruses or other pathogens has recently been applied by intramuscular injection as a novel type of vaccine. It can induce cytotoxic T cell response in small animals and protect against challenge with influenza A viruses. Combinations with cytokines or DNA-encoding cytokines have been applied in order to increase the efficiency of protection. A DNA vaccine has been analyzed here against malignant melanoma encoding gp100/pmel17, a melanoma-associated antigen. A small animal model was used by injection of B16 melanoma cells to syngeneic C57Bl/6 mice. DNA vaccination before tumor cell challenge leads to about 50% reduction of tumor size. The cytokine gene coding for GM-CSF did not increase the efficiency but also led to tumor size reduction when applied alone.
Nawrath
M
M
Institute of Medical Virology of the University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Pavlovic
J
J
Dummet
R
R
Schultz
J
J
Strack
B
B
Heinrich
J
J
Moelling
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D058951:gp100 Melanoma Antigen
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C548642:Pmel protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D058951:gp100 Melanoma Antigen; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor