Dendritic cells pulsed with GST–EGFR fusion protein: Effect in antitumor immunity against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

✍ Scribed by Bei-Bei Yang; Hua Jiang; Jia Chen; Xing Zhang; Jing-Jia Ye; Jiang Cao

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 546 KB
• Volume: 32
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1043-3074
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.21233

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

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‐γ (IFN‐γ) 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).

Conclusion

The DCs pulsed with GST–EGFR fusion protein can provide not only preventive but also therapeutic antitumor activities against HNSCC in the animal model. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010