Article
Induction of strong and persistent MelanA/MART-1-specific immune responses by adjuvant dendritic cell-based vaccination of stage II melanoma patients
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Published: | March 20, 2006 |
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A significant percentage of stage II melanoma patients (tumor thickness >1mm) remain at risk of tumor recurrence after primary tumor excision. In this study, we used tumor antigen-pulsed dendritic cells as an adjuvant for immunization of these “high risk” melanoma patients after resection of the primary tumor. A total of 13 patients were included and vaccinated six times every 14 days with autologous dendritic cells pulsed with a MelanA/MART-1 peptide in combination with a recall antigen. Antigen-specific immune responses were monitored before, during and up to one year after the last vaccination. The majority of patients exhibited increased recall antigen-specific CD4+ T cell responses upon vaccination. MelanA/MART-1-specific CD8+ T cells were expanded in 9/13 patients resulting in increased frequencies of memory cells in these patients. CD8+ T cells acquired the capacity to secrete IFN-g, to proliferate in culture in response to the tumor antigen used for vaccination and post vaccine samples contained.