Influence of CD80, interleukin-2, and interleukin-7 expression in human renal cell carcinoma on the expansion, function, and survival of tumor-specific CTLs

Autor/innen

  • B. Frankenberger
  • H. Pohla
  • E. Noessner
  • G. Willimsky
  • B. Papier
  • A. Pezzutto
  • J. Kopp
  • R. Oberneder
  • T. Blankenstein
  • D.J. Schendel

Journal

  • Clinical Cancer Research

Quellenangabe

  • Clin Cancer Res 11: 1733-1742

Zusammenfassung

  • PURPOSE:

    A renal cell carcinoma (RCC) line, RCC-26, has been identified as a suitable candidate for development of an allogeneic tumor cell vaccine based on its expression of a variety of tumor-associated antigens (TAA). To improve immunogenicity, RCC-26 cells were genetically engineered to express CD80 alone or in combination with interleukin (IL)-2 or IL-7. The effect of these modifications on proliferation, function, and survival of autologous and allogeneic tumor-specific CTLs was assessed.

    EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:

    RCC-26 sublines expressing different transgenes were tested for their capacity to reactivate cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity in autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, to improve proliferation and survival of tumor-associated T cells present in autologous peripheral blood, and to induce tumor-associated responses in naive allogeneic lymphocytes. The expression of several common TAA was quantitated in the RCC-26 sublines using reverse transcription-PCR to identify surrogate markers for immune monitoring in clinical trials.

    RESULTS:

    Gene-modified RCC-26 cells showed enhanced immunogenicity. CD80 expression was necessary to induce RCC-associated CTL in blood of healthy allogeneic donors. It also improved proliferation of autologous effector-memory T cells. Further enhancement was achieved with IL-2 through induction of the antiapoptosis protein Bcl-x(L). The candidate vaccine lines overexpressed several common TAA that are suitable markers for immune monitoring.

    CONCLUSIONS:

    RCC-26 cells coexpressing CD80 and cytokine transgenes display improved immunogenic characteristics, supporting their use as allogeneic tumor cell vaccines for HLA-A2-matched patients with metastatic RCC.


DOI

doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-1883