Vaccine Vector for Sustained High-Level Antitumor CTL Response

摘要

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) induces strong and long-lasting immune responses, which make it an attractive candidate for a cancer vaccine vector. In this study, we tested whether Her2/neu expressed in CMV can induce tumor specific immune responses and mount an anti-tumor effect against breast cancer. We have constructed a MCMV-neu vaccine expressing a truncated rat Her2/neu containing extracellular and transmembrance domains. A single dose of MCMV-neu vaccination induced complete rejection of Tubo breast cancer cells in mice. We have also finished the construction of a spread deficient MCMV-neu, which lacks the gL gene required for viral entry into host cells. The project has been moving as we proposed. Next, upon the approval of the animal protocol by DOD, we will measure the immune responses induced by the vaccines and determine the effectiveness of the vaccines in animal model and determine the optimal vaccination regimen for the replicationdeficient vaccine. We believe that the immune responses induced by CMV vaccine will help to drive a long lasting antitumor effect against breast cancer. In conclusion, our primary findings have suggested for the first time that CMV is a promising vector for breast cancer vaccine.