title: Immunization with a plant-produced colorectal cancer antigen.
abstract: Cancer vaccination has become an important focus of oncology in recent years. Active immunization with tumor-associated antigens such as colorectal cancer antigen GA733-2 is thought to potentially overcome the reoccurrence of metastasis. As recombinant protein production in bioreactors is costly and subject to growing safety concerns, we tested plants as an alternative for the expression of a potential colorectal cancer vaccine. Comparing colorectal cancer antigen GA733-2 produced in tobacco plants with the same antigen produced in insect cell culture, we found a similar humoral immune response to injection of either of the two antigen preparations into mice. Some minor differences were observed in the cellular response that might be due to impurities. Our studies compare for the first time, immunization with the same antigen expressed in either plants or insect cell culture. This will provide important data for use of plants as production systems of therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories, Thomas Jefferson University, Room M85, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Verch
authors.forename: D Craig
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: Anatoly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiyatkin
authors.forename: Zenon
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Steplewski
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koprowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000276:immunology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics*; D014027:Tobacco Mosaic Virus / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D003165:Complement System Proteins