IMMUNOTHERAPY USING ALLOGENEIC SQUAMOUS CELL TUMOR-DENDRITIC CELL FUSION HYBRIDS

Background Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are known to be immunotherapy targets; thus tumor-sharing TAA may be used as a fusion hybrid partner to confer protection against subsequent tumor challenge. Methods The squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), SCCVII and B4B8, were used in C3H/HEN mice: SCCVII (H-2k) is syngeneic, B4B8 (H-2d) is allogeneic. Experiments using tumor alone included hyperimmunization schedule, subdermal and intranodal routes. Mice were challenged 2 weeks later. Fusion hybrids were created from both SCC tumor cell lines and syngeneic dendritic cells (DCs). These were delivered intranodally for immunization, and mice were challenged with tumor 2 weeks later. Results Only syngeneic tumor given subdermally was able to protect after tumor challenge 2 weeks later. Hyperimmunization schedule did not alter these findings. However, fusion hybrid immunization from both allogeneic and syngeneic SCCs conferred protection after tumor challenge. Conclusions Allogeneic tumor–DC fusion hybrids targeting TAA can protect against subsequent tumor challenge. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010