I just stumbled upon this interesting article about an article by Mooney et al. that utilizes a sponge-like matrix coated with pro-inflammatory molecules (bacterial DNA), cytokines and crude melanoma lysates as an anti-tumor 'vaccination' for melanoma. The components of the matrix basically mimick a local pro-inflammatory environment and provide the infiltrating DCs with peptides of the melonoma which can then in turn be presented to antigen-specific T cells in the draining LN. The reason for the excitement about this approach is quoted as "[...] it has all of the molecular and cellular signatures of a strong vaccine reaction.[...]". As always, the detailed reasons of why this works so well are not known.
Maybe it is almost, but not quite yet, time for tumor immunology to shine.
P.S.: It seems that the original article is not in PubMed yet, as I could not find it. I will post a proper link once it is up.
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I am just wondering if vaccinating cancers causes some kind of mistakes we have made of overuse of antibiotics...
ReplyDeleteMelanoma vaccine doesn't make sense to me because basic idea of vaccination is to reduce epidemics. HPV vaccine is available but it is believed to be spread via intercourse. If the disease is not contagious, I don't see the reason to use. Melanoma has poor prognosis and prevention is important, but not sure about direct stimulation to the immune response. As melanoma antibodies are stimulated and proliferate, chances to proliferate other antibodies decrease. If I understand well, it should make sense as children has various antibodies and elderly has fewer kinds although numbers of antibodies are same. So, as we age, we are more susceptible for something we never encountered.
Stimulating melanoma antibody will be controversial as the cost, benefit and disadvantages have to be examined to make a decision. Who should be treated will be another consideration as how we evaluate high risk group. It's not going to be by a person's opinion as again it's not contagious disease.
If the matrix also has things that would be recognized as PAMP pathogen-associated molecular patterns, and additional pro-inflammatory cytokines the side effects may even be as severe as initiating autoimmune diseases or causing a cytokine storm. I wonder if the approach in design was to push the immune response one way or another (type I or II), or if the goal was to cause the entire region to be removed in a less specific destruction.
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