%0 Journal Article
%T Anti-tumor effects of a human VEGFR-2-based DNA vaccine in mouse models
%A Xie Ke
%A Bai Rui-Zhen
%A Wu Yang
%A Liu Quan
%J Genetic Vaccines and Therapy
%D 2009
%I 
%R 10.1186/1479-0556-7-10
%X Background Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor, VEGFR-2 (Flk-1/KDR), play a key role in tumor angiogenesis. Blocking the VEGF-VEGFR-2 pathway may inhibit tumor growth. Here, we used human VEGFR-2 as a model antigen to explore the feasibility of immunotherapy with a plasmid DNA vaccine based on a xenogeneic homologue of this receptor. Methods The protective effects and therapeutic anti-tumor immunity mediated by the DNA vaccine were investigated in mouse models. Anti-angiogenesis effects were detected by immunohistochemical staining and the alginate-encapsulate tumor cell assay. The mechanism of action of the DNA vaccine was primarily explored by detection of auto-antibodies and CTL activity. Results The DNA vaccine elicited a strong, protective and therapeutic anti-tumor immunity through an anti-angiogenesis mechanism in mouse models, mediated by the stimulation of an antigen-specific response against mFlk-1. Conclusion Our study shows that a DNA vaccine based on a xenogeneic homologue plasmid DNA induced autoimmunity against VEGFR-2, resulting in inhibition of tumor growth. Such vaccines may be clinically relevant for cancer immunotherapy.
%U http://www.gvt-journal.com/content/7/1/10