Induction of tumor immunity and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses using dendritic cells transfected with messenger RNA amplified from tumor cells

Unique patient-specific tumor antigens may constitute the dominant antigens in the antitumor immune response. Hence, vaccination with the patient's ow n repertoire of tumor antigens may offer a superior strategy to elicit prot ective immunity. We have shown previously that dendritic cells transfected with mRNA isolated from tumor cells stimulate potent CTL responses and enge nder protective immunity in tumor-bearing mice. In the current study, we de monstrate that tumor mRNA, isolated from murine tumor cell lines or from pr imary human tumor cells microdissected from frozen tissue sections, can be amplified without Loss of function. This study provides the foundations for an effective and broadly applicable treatment that does not require the ch aracterization of the relevant antigenic profile in each patient and will n ot be limited by tumor tissue availability for antigen preparation.