Anti-tumor immunity induced by murine melanoma cells transduced with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene encoding the 38-kDa antigen

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ag38 gene, which Moreover, vaccination with transduced cells significantlyencodes a highly immunogenic protein, was cloned into a prolonged survival of mice challenged i.v. with parentalretroviral vector in-frame with the leader and the trans- melanoma cells. These data indicate that the presence ofmembrane portion of the nerve growth factor receptor, and the mycobacterial 38-kDa protein greatly enhancestransduced into murine melanoma cell line B16-B78. Sig- immunological recognition of structures expressed by thenificant protection was observed in mice immunized with parental melanoma cells. Comparison of Th1 and Th2the transduced melanoma cells and subcutaneously chal- responses in mice immunized with parental melanomalenged with parental melanoma cells since only 20% of cells versus mice receiving the transduced cells revealedmice developed tumors. Necroscopy of mice immunized a clear predominance of Th1 responses when the Ag38with the transduced melanoma cells revealed dramatic protein was endogenously expressed. This transductioninhibition of experimental metastases induced by approach may represent a promising immunotherapeuticintravenous (i.v.) inoculation of parental melanoma cells. strategy for the treatment of cancer patients.Keywords: mouse melanoma; cancer vaccine; Mycobacterium tuberculosis