Tumor growth inhibited by vaccination with Her-2/neu peptides.

2004 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Tumor cell growth was inhibited by antibodies induced after vaccination with peptides derived from the extracellular domain of Her-2/neu.

According to a study from Austria, "The anti Her-2/neu monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab has strong inhibiting effects on tumor growth in vitro and in vivo and is therefore used for immunotherapy in breast cancer patients. Due to necessity of frequent applications, however, cost intensiveness of Trastuzumab treatment and its limited duration of affectivity, an active immunization inducing a perhaps preventive and long-term immunity to Her-2/neu remains a desirable goal. We attempted to induce anti Her-2/neu antibodies by peptide vaccination and to test their efficacy in inhibiting tumor cell growth in vitro."

"By computer aided analyses, seven putative B cell epitopes of Her-2/neu were defined and synthesized," said Joanna Jasinska and colleagues at the University of Vienna. "These peptide epitopes were coupled to tetanus toxoid and used for immunization in BALB/c mice. Among these peptides, immunizations with two single peptides or a combination of two peptides induced anti-peptide antibody levels, primarily of the IgG1 isotype. These antibodies were also directed against the native Her-2/neu antigen, as shown in precipitation assays and ELISA with cell lysates of the Her-2/neu overexpressing breast cancer cell line SK-BR-3."

The researchers ...