A WKYMVm-containing combination elicits potent anti-tumor activity in heterotopic cancer animal model

PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e30522. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030522. Epub 2012 Jan 25.

Abstract

The development of efficient anti-cancer therapy has been a topic of intense interest for several decades. Combined administration of certain molecules and immune cells has been shown to be an effective form of anti-cancer therapy. Here, we examined the effects of administering an immune stimulating peptide (WKYMVm), 5-fluoro-uracil (5-FU), and mature dendritic cells (mDCs) against heterotopic cancer animal model. Administration of the triple combination strongly reduced tumor volume in CT-26-inoculated heterotopic cancer animal model. The induced anti-tumor activity was well correlated with FAS expression, caspase-3 activation, and cancer cell apoptosis. The triple combination treatment caused recruitment of CD8 T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells into the tumor. The production of two cytokines, IFN-γ and IL-12, were strongly stimulated by administration of the triple combination. Depletion of CD8 T lymphocytes or NK cells by administration of anti-CD8 or anti-asialoGM1 antibody inhibited the anti-tumor activity and cytokine production of the triple combination. The triple combination strongly inhibited metastasis of colon cancer cells in a heterotopic cancer animal model as well as in a metastatic cancer animal model, and enhanced the survival rate of the mice model. Adoptive transfer of CD8 T lymphocytes and NK cells further increased the survival rate. Taken together, we suggest that the use of triple combination therapy of WKYMVm, 5-FU, and mDCs may have implications in solid tumor and metastasis treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / immunology
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / pharmacology
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Interactions
  • Fluorouracil / pharmacology*
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Oligopeptides / therapeutic use
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Cytokines
  • Oligopeptides
  • Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-Met
  • Fluorouracil