Hanson, Michael J.

Abstract Immunotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of melanoma have been hindered by the emergence of melanoma variants and relapsing tumors that are antigenically distinct and hence not recognized by memory cells. We have identified an antibody that has proven effective for the treatment of a mouse model of melanoma, B16. B7DC-XAb is an antibody that specifically binds to dendritic cells and increases their antigen uptake capabilities and their ability to activate T-cells and generates strong cytotoxic lymphocyte responses. We are using B16 tumor cell lysates along with this antibody as an adjuvant for the generation of robust and rapid CTL responses to B16 melanoma. Treatment of B16 tumor challenged mice with B7DC-XAb leads to a CTL response that recognizes an epitope from tyrosinase related protein-1. Subsequent B16-OVA tumor challenge results in a lack of protection, against this related but antigenically unique tumor. Therefore we have used tumor cell lysates in conjunction with antibody treatment in an attempt to broaden the specificity against the melanoma lines. Therapeutic treatment with B16 tumor cell lysate and B7DC-XAb leads to clearance of a 6 day established B16 tumor. Further, re-challenge 30 days later with B16-OVA is also cleared demonstrating an enhanced memory response, to this antigenically distinct tumor. Further studies will determine which antigens are responsible for initiating this response as well as those that are important for tumor clearance.