title: Microenvironment, oncoantigens, and antitumor vaccination: lessons learned from BALB-neuT mice.
abstract: The tyrosine kinase human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene is amplified in approximately 20% of human breast cancers and is associated with an aggressive clinical course and the early development of metastasis. Its crucial role in tumor growth and progression makes HER2 a prototypic oncoantigen, the targeting of which may be critical for the development of effective anticancer therapies. The setup of anti-HER2 targeting strategies has revolutionized the clinical outcome of HER2(+) breast cancer. However, their initial success has been overshadowed by the onset of pharmacological resistance that renders them ineffective. Since the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in drug resistance, the design of more effective anticancer therapies should depend on the targeting of both cancer cells and their TME as a whole. In this review, starting from the successful know-how obtained with a HER2(+) mouse model of mammary carcinogenesis, the BALB-neuT mice, we discuss the role of TME in mammary tumor development. Indeed, a deeper knowledge of antigens critical for cancer outbreak and progression and of the mechanisms that regulate the interplay between cancer and stromal cell populations could advise promising ways for the development of the best anticancer strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barutello
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macagno
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandini
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lanzardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human; C524056:Erbb2 protein, mouse