Vaccine therapy of colorectal cancer patients with tumor antigens

For the first time two tumor-associated antigens were evaluated as adjuvant therapy in combination with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for patients with colorectal cancer. The rst study involved immunization with the protein, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) during one year. This vaccination regimen induced a strong immunoglobulin 1 (IgG1) and IgG4 and a moderate IgG2 response against CEA. The humoral as well as the T cell responses were protracted up to 36 months. The dose of CEA had no or modest effect on these responses. The anti-CEA IgG titers related signi cantly to survival. Functional HLA-DR epitopes of CEA could be de ned which may serve as components of a vaccination strategy. The other vaccine strategy consisted of the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-Cam) expressed as a transgene in a viral vector, ALVAC. Patients were immunized over 6 weeks. No anti-Ep-Cam speci c humoral response was induced, but eventually Ep-Cam speci c type 1 T cells were induced. Both vaccines were well tolerated. GM-CSF augmented the responses. A low incidence of GM-CSF antibodies that did not neutralize the effect of GM-CSF was observed.

Autorentext

Wife Anna, 3 sons. 2001-02 chairman for the younger physicians in Uppsala county, 2003 PhD, 2003-04 director of studies at the dpt of oncology in Uppsala, 2005-06 senior lecturer in medical oncology at City Hospital, Nottingham. Since 2007 consultant and since 2008 director for the registrars at the dpt of oncology in Uppsala.