Gene-based vaccine strategies against cancer Review Article

In recent years, the characterization of gene-based cancer vaccines has been an important step in the development of different treatment options for human carcinoma. These particular vaccines make use of proteins that are specif ical ly produced at very high levels by tumor ce l l s . These tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are not only used in diagnostic situations, but also in the development of cancer vaccines . In this review we wi l l focus on two wel l character ized TAAs, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and prostate specific antigen (PSA). The two methods of i n v i v o delivery we will examine are recombinant vaccinia virus and nucleic acid immunization. The TAA gene can be c loned into vaccinia v irus and the viral infection stimulates an adequate immune response in the host. In the case of nucleic acid immunization, DNA constructs encoding for TAAs are direct ly injected into the host and are taken up by i t s ce l l s . The ce l l s express the spec i f ic encoded antigen upon which the immune system acts.