Amplification of virus-induced antimelanoma T-cell reactivity by high-dose interferon-alpha 2b: Implications for cancer vaccines

Astsaturov I., Petrella T., Bagriacik E. Ü., de Benedette M., Uger R., Lumber G., ...More

CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH, vol.9, no.12, pp.4347-4355, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 9 Issue: 12
  • Publication Date: 2003
  • Journal Name: CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.4347-4355
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Purpose: The therapeutic effectiveness of cancer vaccines, composed of tumor antigens that are also self-antigens, may be limited by the normal mechanisms that preserve immunological tolerance. Consistent with this notion, we found that vaccination of melanoma patients with recombinant viral vaccines expressing gp100 (a melanoma antigen also expressed by normal melanocytes) produced only transient increases in noncytotoxic T cells specific for immunodominant gp100 epitopes. To improve the therapeutic effects of these vaccines, IFN-alpha2b (IFN-alpha) was administered to some high-risk patients.