Anti-Tumor Immunity Induced by a Ternary Membrane System Derived From Cancer Cells, Dendritic Cells, and Bacteria

Small. 2023 Dec;19(50):e2302756. doi: 10.1002/smll.202302756. Epub 2023 Aug 21.

Abstract

Cancer vaccines generally are limited by insufficient tumor-specific cellular immunogenicity. Herein, a potent "ABC" ternary membrane-derived vaccine system blended from antigen-presenting mature dendritic cell membranes ("A"), bacterial E. coli cytoplasmic membranes ("B"), and cancer cell membranes ("C") is developed using a block-copolymer micelle-enabled approach. The respective ABC membrane components provide for a source of cellular immune communication/activation and enhanced accumulation in lymph nodes (A), immunological adjuvant (B), and tumor antigens (C). The introduction of dendritic cell (DC) membranes enables multiple cell-to-cell communication and powerful immune activation. ABC activates dendritic cells and promotes T-cell activation and proliferation in vitro. In vivo, ABC is 14- and 304-fold more immunogenic than binary (BC) and single (C) membrane vaccines, and immunization with ABC enhances the frequency of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, leading to an 80% cure rate in tumor-bearing mice. In a surgical resection and recurrence model, ABC prevents recurrence with vaccination from autologous cancer membranes, and therapeutic effects are observed in a lung metastasis model even with heterologous cancer cell membranes. ABCs formed from human cancer patient-derived tumor cells activate human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC). Taken together, the ternary ABC membrane system provides the needed functional components for personalized cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords: biomimetic materials; cancer immunotherapy; hybrid membrane; nanovaccine.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cancer Vaccines*
  • Dendritic Cells
  • Escherichia coli
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cancer Vaccines