title: Transcutaneous immunization with cytotoxic T-cell peptide epitopes provides effective antitumor immunity in mice.
abstract: Much attention has been focused on transcutaneous immunization strategies to stimulate systemic cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses leading to anti-tumor or anti-microbial immunity. Here we report that topical application of vaccines consisting of synthetic peptides formulated with imiquimod, a Toll-like receptor agonist that functions as a potent adjuvant generates strong T cell responses that exhibit effective anti-tumor effects in a murine melanoma model system. These results support the use of peptide-based transcutaneous vaccines as a noninvasive and effective strategy for anti-tumor immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA. ecelis@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Celis
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000483:Alleles; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D000939:Epitopes; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D010455:Peptides; D000077271:Imiquimod