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Investigators at University of Navarra publish new data on cancer gene therapy
November 26th, 2007
2007 NOV 26 -- According to recent research from Pamplona, Spain, "Better understanding of the mechanisms that mediate spontaneous immune rejections ought to be important in the quest for improvements in immunotherapy of cancer. A set of intraperitoneal tumors of mesenchymal origin that had been chemically induced in ubiquitously expressing EGFP transgenic mice provided a model in which both T and NK cells were absolutely required for tumor rejection." "Tumor cells were traceable because of being fluorescent and readily grafted in RAG1(-/-) immunodeficient mice, whereas they were rejected in a majority of syngeneic C57BL/6 and EGFP-transgenic mice. Tumor-cell clones with the highest EGFP expression tended to be rejected, but a direct involvement of EGFP as the antigen recognized for the immune rejections was ruled out. Rejections were absolutely dependent on NK cells as well as on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes according to selective depletion studies. Furthermore, CD8(+) and CD4(+) T lymphocytes as well as NK cells were detected in the inflammatory infiltrate that mediates tumor rejection along with some DC. The effects of IFN gamma, produced at the tumor site by T and NK lymphocytes, were only required at the malignant cell level and were necessary for tumor eradication. NK recognition of tumor cells was mediated by the NKG2D-activating receptor and blocking its function in vivo partially interfered with rejection," wrote A. Arina and colleagues, University of Navarra. The researchers concluded: "Therefore, complete rejection of these mesenchymal tumors requires a concerted set of activities including direct tumor-cell destruction and IFN gamma production that are mediated by both NK and T cells." Arina and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Cancer (The combined actions of NK and T lymphocytes are necessary to reject an EGFP plus mesenchymal tumor through mechanisms dependent on NKG2D and IFN gamma. International Journal of Cancer, 2007;121(6):1282-1295). For additional information, contact I. Melero, University of Navarra, Center Invest Med Aplicada & Clinic University, Avda, Pio 12, 55, Pamplona 31008, Spain. Publisher contact information for the International Journal of Cancer is: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA. Keywords: Spain, Pamplona, Cancer Gene Therapy, University of Navarra. This article was prepared by Cancer Gene Therapy Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Cancer Gene Therapy Week via NewsRx.com.
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