Immunization with a vaccine that combines the expression of MUC1 and B7 co-stimulatory molecules prolongs the survival of mice and delays the appearance of mouse mammary tumors

Human epithelial mucin (MUC1) is expressed by many carcinomas, including breast cancer cells. This breast cancer-associated antigen has been widely used for immunotherapy, despite the fact that cellular immune responses to MUC1 are impaired in breast cancer patients and MUC1 transgenic animals. Previously, we found that immunogenicity to MUC1 was also impaired in BALB/c mice injected with a mammary tumor cell line (410.4) expressing human MUC1. We suggested that one reason for its weak immunogenicity was the lack of expression of B7 molecules by 410.4 cells. Recognition of antigenic epitopes in conjunction with MHCI/II by the T-cell receptor without co-stimulation by B7/CD28 association resulted in T-cell anergy. Therefore, we attempted to enhance protective anti-MUC1-specific immunity in mice using B7 co-stimulatory molecules as a component of the MUC1 vaccine. We also compared cell-based with DNA-based vaccination strategies. One group of mice was vaccinated with an irradiated, 410.4 syngeneic mammary tumor cell line co-expressing human MUC1 and CD80 or CD86 co-stimulatory molecules, and a second group of mice was vaccinated with plasmids encoding MUC1 and CD80 or CD86. These mice along with appropriate controls were challenged with mammary tumor cell line 4T1, which expresses MUC1. There were significant inhibition on rates of tumor growth and survival in mice vaccinated with irradiated 410.4/MUC1 cells co-expressing either CD80 or CD86 molecules, compared to non-vaccinated animals. In addition, there were also significant delays in the appearance of measurable tumors and their growth in mice vaccinated by gene-gun immunization with plasmids encoding MUC1 and CD80 or CD86.