Epigenetically modified pancreatic carcinoma PANC-1 cells can act as cancer vaccine to enhance antitumor immune response in mice

Oncol Res. 2013;21(6):307-16. doi: 10.3727/096504014X13983417587320.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is characterized as a type of gastrointestinal tumor with a poor prognosis and high degree of malignancy. CIITA gene was found highly methylated in pancreatic carcinoma cell line PANC-1 and responsible for the low expression of major histocompatability complex II (MHC-II) that may lead to immune evasion. Here, we prepared pancreatic cancer vaccine with PANC-1 cells via epigenetic modification to enhance the MHC-II expression. Then the vaccine was injected into C57BL/6J mice and the effect was examined. Our study found that the vaccine could promote the proliferation of antigen-specific T cells, enhance the killing activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), promote Th1-type cell-mediated secretion of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2 while inhibiting Th2-type cell-mediated secretion of IL-4, and inhibit the secretion of TGF-β. Generally, the epigenetically modified vaccine could enhance the body's antitumor immune response, providing feasibility research on cancer vaccine for therapy of pancreatic cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • DNA Methylation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy
  • T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Cytokines
  • MHC class II transactivator protein
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Trans-Activators