Synthetic and natural non-live vectors: rationale for their clinical development in cancer vaccine protocols

Vaccine. 2002 Dec 19:20 Suppl 4:A32-9. doi: 10.1016/s0264-410x(02)00385-7.

Abstract

Different arguments suggest that cytotoxic CD8 T lymphocytes (CTL) play a key role in the protection against tumors and in the establishment of anti-tumor immunity. Unfortunately, administration of soluble proteins alone generally does not induce CD8+ T cells presumably because antigen derived peptides are not introduced into the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen presentation pathway. Attenuated recombinant live vectors such as viruses or bacteria which have the ability to deliver antigen into the cytosol of cells have been shown to induce cytotoxic T cell response. However, there are safety concerns associated with these approaches especially in immunodeficient patients. Synthetic vectors such as heat shock proteins, virus like particles (VLP) and liposomes could deliver exogenous protein into the cytosol of cells associated with the induction of CTL and tumor immunity. We and other groups have successfully exploited the original intracellular traffic of toxins to use them as vectors for tumor antigens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cancer Vaccines*
  • Genetic Vectors*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / immunology

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I