HA Based Opsonokines:A Novel Approach to Tumor Vaccines

描述(申请人提供)：一些学术团体和公司专注于通过细胞因子基因转移生产基于细胞的肿瘤疫苗。这种方法允许持续的局部产生细胞因子，并在细胞附近保持较高的细胞因子浓度。然而，基因转移带来了许多问题。作为基因改造的一种实用的、面向产品的替代方案，我们正在生产细胞因子，这些细胞因子被设计为在外源、体外添加时自动附着到肿瘤细胞上。因此，该分子的免疫调节部分位于细胞外表面，并集中在表面附近，增加了其效力。这些分子，我们称之为“调控素”，通过与无处不在的质膜特征相互作用而附着在细胞上。在初步研究中，一种基于调理因子的原型疫苗在小鼠身上显示了良好的抗肿瘤活性。我们现在继续对原型分子进行体外和体内研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A number of academic groups and companies have focused on the production of cell-based tumor vaccines by cytokine gene transfer. This approach allows sustained local production of the cytokine and maintains a high concentration of cytokine in the vicinity of the cells. However, gene transfer presents numerous problems. As a practical, product-oriented alternative to genetic modification, we are producing cytokines that are engineered to automatically attach to tumor cells when added exogenously, ex vivo. The immunomodulatory portion of the molecule is thus positioned on the outer cell surface and concentrated in the vicinity of surface, increasing its potency. These molecules, which we have dubbed "opsonokines", attach to cells through interactions with ubiquitous plasma membrane features. In preliminary studies, a prototype opsonokine-based vaccine has demonstrated excellent antitumor activity in mice. We now continue our in vitro and in vivo studies of the prototype molecule.