Chitosan gel vaccine protects against tumour growth in an intracaecal mouse model of cancer by modulating systemic immune responses. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Highton, Andrew; Girardin, Adam; Bell, Georgia; Hook, Sarah; Kemp, Roslyn
• Is Part Of: BMC immunology. Volume 17:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Colon cancer -- IFN-γ -- T cells -- Vaccination -- Tumour -- Caecum; Immunology -- Periodicals; Immune System -- Periodicals; Immunity -- Periodicals; Immune System Diseases -- Periodicals; Immunologic Techniques -- Periodicals; 616.07905
• DOI: 10.1186/s12865-016-0178-4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2172

Abstract

Abstract Background Vaccination generating a robust memory population of CD8+ T cells may provide protection against cancer. However, immune therapies for cancer are influenced by the local tumour immune microenvironment. An infiltrate of T cells into tumours of people with colorectal cancer has proven to be a significant indicator of good prognosis. Methods We used an intracaecal mouse model of cancer to determine whether a protective immune response against a mucosal gut tumour could be generated using a systemic intervention. We investigated the generation of murine memory CD8+ T cells using a sustained antigen release vaccine vehicle (chitosan gel; Gel + OVA) containing the model antigen ovalbumin, chitosan gel alone (Gel) or conventional dendritic cell vaccination (DC + OVA) using the same protein antigen. Results Following vaccination with Gel + OVA, CD8+ T cell memory populations specific for ovalbumin protein were detected. Only vaccination with Gel + OVA gave decreased tumour burden compared to unvaccinated or DC + OVA-vaccinated mice in the intracaecal cancer challenge model. Conclusion These results indicate that subcutaneous vaccination with Gel + OVA generates a population of functional CD8+ memory T cells in lymphoid tissue able to protect against intracaecal tumour challenge. Vaccination with chitosan gel may be valuable in anti-cancer treatment at both peripheral and mucosal sites.