In Situ Conversion of Melanoma Lesions into Autologous Vaccine by Intratumoral Injections of α-gal Glycolipids

Cancers

Uri Galili¹  Mark R. Albertini²  Paul M. Sondel²  Kim Wigglesworth¹  Mary Sullivan¹ 

[1] Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; E-Mails:;University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI. 53792, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: Melanoma immunotherapy;    anti-Gal antibody;    α-gal glycolipids;    α1;    3-galactosyltransferase;    Fcγ receptors;    antigen presenting cells;   

DOI  :  10.3390/cancers2020773

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Autologous melanoma associated antigens (MAA) on murine melanoma cells can elicit a protective anti-tumor immune response following a variety of vaccine strategies. Most require effective uptake by antigen presenting cells (APC). APC transport and process internalized MAA for activation of anti-tumor T cells. One potential problem with clinical melanoma vaccines against autologous tumors may be that often tumor cells do not express surface markers that label them for uptake by APC. Effective uptake of melanoma cells by APC might be achieved by exploiting the natural anti-Gal antibody which constitutes ~1% of immunoglobulins in humans. This approach has been developed in a syngeneic mouse model using mice capable of producing anti-Gal. Anti-Gal binds specifically to α-gal epitopes (Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R). Injection of glycolipids carrying α-gal epitopes (α-gal glycolipids) into melanoma lesions results in glycolipid insertion into melanoma cell membranes, expression of α-gal epitopes on the tumor cells and binding of anti-Gal to these epitopes. Interaction between the Fc portions of bound anti-Gal and Fcγ receptors on APC induces effective uptake of tumor cells by APC. The resulting anti-MAA immune response can be potent enough to destroy distant micrometastases. A clinical trial is now open testing effects of intratumoral α-gal glycolipid injections in melanoma patients.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.