INDUCTION OF ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC ANTITUMOR IMMUNITY WITH ADENOVIRUS-TRANSDUCED DENDRITIC CELLS

Transduction of dendritic cells (DC) can result in presentation of tum or-associated antigens and induction of immunity against undefined epi topes. The present studies demonstrate adenovirus (Ad)-mediated transd uction of the beta-galactosidase gene in mouse DC. Similar transductio ns have been obtained with the gene encoding the DF3/MUC1 tumor-associ ated antigen. We show that the Ad-transduced DC are functional in prim ary allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions. Mice immunized with Ad-tran sduced DC develop cytotoxic T lymphocytes that are specific for the be ta-galactosidase or DF3/MUC1 antigens. The results also demonstrate th at Ad.MUC1-transduced DC induce a specific response which inhibits the growth of DF3/MUC1-positive tumors. These findings support the useful ness of Ad-transduced DC for in vivo immunization against tumor-associ ated antigens.