Immune responses of breast cancer patients to mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-RvIII, Delta EGF-R, and de2-7 EGF-R).
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-RvIII, DeltaEGF-R, and de2-7 EGF-R) is the result of an 801-bp deletion within the extracellular domain of wild-type EGF-R and is expressed by breast carcinomas, but not by normal breast tissues. EGF-RvIII is expressed both on the surface and in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. Thus, EGF-RvIII is a potential tumor-specific target for both Abs and T cells. However, it is not known whether breast cancer patients can raise immune responses to EGF-RvIII expressed by their tumors. The demonstration of EGF-RvIII-specific immune responses in patients would suggest that immunization of patients with EGF-RvIII vaccines is feasible, because these vaccines may boost a pre-existing immune response. We have evaluated humoral and cellular immune responses to EGF-RvIII in 16 breast cancer patients and three healthy donors. Seven of 16 patients developed EGF-RvIII-specific Abs that bound to isolated EGF-RvIII protein or the protein expressed by EGF-RvIII-transfected mouse fibroblasts. The Abs that bound to EGF-RvIII did not bind to wild-type EGF-R, and anti-EGF-RvIII Abs were not found in the sera of healthy donors. Three patients had EGF-RvIII peptide-specific lymphoproliferative responses, and two of these patients also had humoral immune responses. Humoral and cellular immune responses correlated with EGF-RvIII expression by patients' tumors in most cases. These studies demonstrate that breast cancer patients specifically recognize EGF-RvIII with an overall immune response rate of 50%, suggesting that patients may benefit from vaccination against EGF-RvIII, boosting pre-existing immune responses.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Purev, E; Cai, D; Miller, E; Swoboda, R; Mayer, T; Klein-Szanto, A; Marincola, FM; Mick, R; Otvos, L; Wunner, W; Birebent, B; Somasundaram, R; Wikstrand, CJ; Bigner, D; DeMichele, A; Acs, G; Berlin, JA; Herlyn, D
Published Date
- November 15, 2004
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 173 / 10
Start / End Page
- 6472 - 6480
PubMed ID
- 15528389
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0022-1767
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.4049/jimmunol.173.10.6472
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States