title: A DNA vaccine against chimeric AFP enhanced by HSP70 suppresses growth of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is produced principally in fetal liver, gastrointestinal tract and the yolk sac which is temporarily present during embryonic development. AFP is overexpressed in the majority of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and thus offers an attractive target for immunotherapy against this neoplasm. Here, we report that anti-HCC effects were achieved in a therapeutic setting with a DNA vaccine encoding mouse AFP and co-expressing heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene. We also demonstrated that this vaccine elicited a marked and highly effective AFP specific CTL response against AFP-positive target cells. This vaccine also induced the prolongation of life span in mice bearing the tumor and the eradication of HCC. It is anticipated that vaccine strategies such as this may contribute to the effective future treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, 400010 Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Yong-Guo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zeng-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Huai-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002678:Chimera; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D016207:Cytokines; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins