PMID: 11912128Mar 26, 2002Paper

Generation of effective antitumor vaccines using photodynamic therapy

Cancer Research
Sandra O GollnickBarbara W Henderson

Abstract

Preclinical studies have shown that photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors augments the host antitumor immune response. However, the role of the PDT effect on tumor cells as opposed to the host tissues has not been determined. To test the contribution of the direct effects of PDT on tumor cells to the enhanced antitumor response by the host, we examined the immunogenicity of PDT-generated murine tumor cell lysates in a preclinical vaccine model. We found that the PDT-generated tumor cell lysates were potent vaccines and that PDT-generated vaccines are more effective than other modes of creating whole tumor vaccines, i.e., UV or ionizing irradiation, and unlike other traditional vaccines, PDT vaccines do not require coadministration of an adjuvant to be effective. PDT vaccines are tumor specific and appear to induce a cytotoxic T-cell response. We have demonstrated that although both UV and PDT-generated tumor cell lysates are able to induce phenotypic DC maturation, only PDT-generated lysates are able to activate DCs to express IL-12, which is critical to the development of a cellular immune response. Our results show that PDT effects on tumor cells alone are sufficient to generate an antitumor immune response, indicating that th...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Avian Influenza: Innate Immune Adjuvant (ASM)

Adjuvants systems that are added to vaccines against avian influenza have be explored to enhance the innate immune system response against the virus. Here is the latest research on avian influenza and the innate immune adjuvant.

Avian Influenza: Innate Immune Adjuvant

Adjuvants systems that are added to vaccines against avian influenza have be explored to enhance the innate immune system response against the virus. Here is the latest research on avian influenza and the innate immune adjuvant.

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer vaccines are vaccines that either treat existing cancer or prevent development of a cancer.