Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Gene Vaccine Expressing PSMA

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To observe anti-tumor effects of PVAX-PSMA gene vaccine. METHODS The PSMA gene was inserted into a mammalian expression vector, PVAX-1, to construct the DNA vaccine candidate, and was then used to vaccinate C57BL/6 mice. Animals vaccinated with PVAX-1 and NaCl were used as controls. Anti-PSMA antibody was detected in sera of the animals. The proliferation and cytotoxicity of the spleen cells were observed. The immunized mice were inoculated with RM-1 cells. The mice were inoculated with RM-1 cells, and then the mice were immunized. The anti-tumor efficacy of the gene vaccine was evaluated by the ratio of tumor formation, tumor volume, tumor mass before and a er gene vaccination and evaluated by survival rate of the immunized mice.RESULTS High level of anti-PSMA antibody was induced in the PVAX-PSMA group. The splenocytes from PVAX-PSMA group were stimulated to produce strong proliferation responses and significant cytotoxic T-cells (CTL) activity. After the mice were immunized with PVAX-PSMA gene, tumor occurrence was decreased, and the growth velocity of tumor was markedly reduced, resulting in prolonged tumor-free time (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION PVAX-PSMA gene vaccine has significant anti- tumor effects and provides an experimental basis for primary prevention and immunotherapy of prostate cancer.

Keywords

• prostate cancer
• prostate-specific membrane antigen
• gene vaccine