alpha-fetoprotein-specific genetic immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

The majority of human hepatocellular carcinomas overexpress alpha-fetoprote in (AFP), Two genetic immunization strategies were used to determine whethe r AFP could serve as a target for T-cell immune responses. Dendritic cells engineered to express AFP produced potent T-cell responses in mice, as evid enced by the generation of AFP-specific CTLs, cytokine-producing T cells, a nd protective immunity. AFP plasmid-based immunization generated less poten t responses, These novel observations demonstrate that this oncofetal antig en can serve as an effective tumor rejection antigen. This provides a ratio nal, gene therapy-based strategy for this disease, which is responsible for the largest number of cancer-related deaths worldwide.