Abstract
The trend of increased survival in advanced tumors suggests the possibility of the transformation of cancer into a chronic disease. That goal will require therapeutic weapons with low toxicity that can be used chronically. Here we summarize the development of a therapeutic vaccine consisting in recombinant EGF chemically linked to a protein from Neisseria meningitides. In mice, the vaccine elicited antibodies to self-EGF and had anti-tumor activity. Clinical trials have shown that the vaccine is also immunogenic and well tolerated in humans. The vaccination produced a decrease in plasma EGF concentration. Advanced lung cancer patients eliciting high antibody titers of EGF had better survival. The vaccine can be used long term and integrated with other treatment modalities.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Autoantibodies / blood
-
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / adverse effects
-
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / immunology
-
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / therapeutic use*
-
Cancer Vaccines / adverse effects
-
Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use*
-
Chronic Disease
-
Epidermal Growth Factor / adverse effects
-
Epidermal Growth Factor / blood
-
Epidermal Growth Factor / immunology
-
Epidermal Growth Factor / therapeutic use*
-
Humans
-
Lung Neoplasms / immunology
-
Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
-
Lung Neoplasms / pathology
-
Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
-
Neisseria meningitidis / immunology*
-
Treatment Outcome
-
Vaccines, Synthetic / therapeutic use
Substances
-
Autoantibodies
-
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
-
Cancer Vaccines
-
Vaccines, Synthetic
-
lpdA protein, Neisseria meningitidis
-
Epidermal Growth Factor