Second-Generation Therapeutic DNA Lymphoma Vaccines; Annual rept. 15 Apr 2007-14 Apr 2008

摘要

The overall goal of our proposal is to develop a lymphoma vaccine for clinical study. Our vaccine strategy aims to activate immune cells that can recognize and eventually eliminate tumor cells. Lymphoma uniquely expresses a tumor-specific antigen termed 'idiotype.' By genetic modification we linked this lymphoma antigen with a type of small proteins that are able to recruit immune cells. When given to animals these vaccines profoundly induced tumor protection in lymphoma mouse models. In the proposed project we will perform a series of animal experiments to choose the best vaccine formulation for a future clinical trial with lymphoma patients. We will also try to understand how the vaccine provokes the immune system to kill tumor cells. The selected vaccine should demonstrate the most potent antitumor effect that is mediated by immune cells. We will initiate the clinical trial which is outside the scope of this project after these proposed studies are completed. Collectively these studies will enable us to develop a more potent lymphoma vaccine and translate it into clinical application.