Novel DNA-based Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine
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- Categories
- Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals
- Summary
- Traditional cancer therapy includes radiation, surgery and chemotherapy, with a few recently developed options for certain types of cancer, such as bone marrow transplant, hormone, antibody and targeted small molecule therapies. Another approach- cancer vaccines- harnesses the body’s own defense mechanism by turning on the production of antibodies, T cells and other immune cells to destroy cancer cells, thus preventing the disease (i.e. preventive vaccine), or controlling the disease (i.e. therapeutic vaccine), without the severe side-effects of conventional therapy, such as those from surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. When successfully vaccinated, the immune system develops a memory to provide long-term protection from disease recurrence. The targeted killing of tumor cells, long term protection from and tremendous economy compared to current therapy are compelling reasons to develop cancer vaccine technology. Until recently, cancer vaccines have demonstrated little success for lack of plausible target molecules and the inability to trigger immune response to self molecules which are found on tumor cells.
Wayne State University has developed a novel DNA-based therapeutic cancer vaccine which targets receptors which, when engaged by antibodies, triggers programmed cell death in tumor, but not normal cells. Using a DNA vaccine targeting a specific mouse receptor, the researchers showed the feasibility to induce anti-mouse receptor antibodies by electrovaccinating mice with naked DNA encoding a fusion protein of the mouse receptor fused to a highly immunogenic, but non-toxic fragment of tetanus toxin. WSU recently received funds to advance the proof of concept of this technology by producing the human equivalent of the mouse vaccines for commercialization.
This vaccine design follows the process established in the inventor’s lab for human Her-2 vaccine development. Her-2 vaccine construction initiated in 1996 has resulted in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced breast cancer in 2003. The safety of the Her-2 vaccine was demonstrated and the process of constructing and testing this DNA vaccine is in place.
- File number
- 08-902
- Publications
- A provisional patent application is on file. WSU is seeking an exclusive license for this technology.
- Contact
- Anne DiSante
Director, Technology Transfer Office
Phone: 313-577-5541
Fax : 313-577-2814
anne.disante@wayne.edu