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Immunization with a plant-produced colorectal cancer antigen

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Abstract

Cancer vaccination has become an important focus of oncology in recent years. Active immunization with tumor-associated antigens such as colorectal cancer antigen GA733-2 is thought to potentially overcome the reoccurrence of metastasis. As recombinant protein production in bioreactors is costly and subject to growing safety concerns, we tested plants as an alternative for the expression of a potential colorectal cancer vaccine. Comparing colorectal cancer antigen GA733-2 produced in tobacco plants with the same antigen produced in insect cell culture, we found a similar humoral immune response to injection of either of the two antigen preparations into mice. Some minor differences were observed in the cellular response that might be due to impurities. Our studies compare for the first time, immunization with the same antigen expressed in either plants or insect cell culture. This will provide important data for use of plants as production systems of therapeutics.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Special thanks to Rhonda Keen for invaluable technical help and to Dr William Wunner for BVES supernatants and critical reading of the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Thorsten Verch

    Present address: Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, 323 Johnson Pavillion, 3610 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

  2. Anatoly Kiyatkin

    Present address: Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Room 269JAH, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories, Thomas Jefferson University, Room M85, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

    Thorsten Verch, D. Craig Hooper, Anatoly Kiyatkin, Zenon Steplewski & Hilary Koprowski

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  1. Thorsten Verch
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  2. D. Craig Hooper
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Correspondence to Hilary Koprowski.

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Verch, T., Hooper, D.C., Kiyatkin, A. et al. Immunization with a plant-produced colorectal cancer antigen. Cancer Immunol Immunother 53, 92–99 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-003-0428-1

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