Dendritic cells pulsed with GST-EGFR fusion protein: effect in antitumor immunity against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is common in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Targeting EGFR is an effective approach to treat EGFR-positive HNSCC. However, the clinical benefits of the present EGFR-targeting agents are still limited in HNSCC patients.


METHODS
Recombinant glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-EGFR fusion protein was produced and purified. Dendritic cells (DCs) of C3H mice were pulsed with fusion protein. Mice were challenged with HNSCC cells before or after vaccination with these DCs, and the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) secretion, tumor growth, and survival of mice were assessed.


RESULTS
Significant in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities were observed for mice immunized with DCs pulsed with GST-EGFR fusion protein, compared with the control groups (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The DCs pulsed with GST-EGFR fusion protein can provide not only preventive but also therapeutic antitumor activities against HNSCC in the animal model.
Yang
Bei-Bei
BB
Department of Otolaryngology, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China.
Jiang
Hua
H
Chen
Jia
J
Zhang
Xing
X
Ye
Jing-Jia
JJ
Cao
Jiang
J
D000818:Animals; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D005260:Female; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D066246:ErbB Receptors