Evaluation of Synergistic Interaction Between Cytokines and Peptide Epitope Vaccines in Protection Against HER-2 Expressing Lung Metastases

Abstract

HER-2, a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor family is overexpressed in 25–30% of breast, ovarian and colon cancers. HER-2 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis and resistance to chemo- and hormonal therapies. We recently reported that chimeric peptide vaccines incorporating a B-cell epitope of HER-2 and “promiscuous” T-helper cell epitope from measles virus are capable of eliciting high levels of native receptor reactive antibodies. In addition, these chimeric peptide vaccines were capable of preventing the spontaneous formation of mammary tumors in HER-2/neu transgenic mice [2]. Ongoing phase lb clinical trials in cancer patients indicate that the chimeric peptide vaccines can induce antibodies capable of killing human cancer cells.