Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Experimental Melanoma Immunotherapy Model Using Tumor Vaccination with a Hematopoietic Cytokine
09:15

Experimental Melanoma Immunotherapy Model Using Tumor Vaccination with a Hematopoietic Cytokine

Published on: February 24, 2023

Cytolytic T-cell responses of cancer patients vaccinated with a MAGE antigen

Pierre G Coulie1, Vaios Karanikas, Christophe Lurquin

  • 1Cellular Genetics Unit, Institute of Cellular Pathology, Université de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.

Immunological Reviews
|November 26, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Therapeutic cancer vaccines targeting MAGE antigens showed a correlation between tumor regression and T-cell responses. A low-level T-cell response against the MAGE-3 peptide was observed in some patients who experienced tumor regression.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Cancer-germline genes, like the MAGE family, are expressed in tumors and male germ cells but not normal tissues.
  • These genes encode tumor-specific antigens used in therapeutic vaccination trials for metastatic melanoma.
  • Evaluating the link between tumor regression and T-cell responses to vaccine antigens is crucial.

Observation:

  • This study evaluated the T-cell responses in patients vaccinated with a MAGE-3 antigenic peptide or a recombinant virus encoding the peptide.
  • Blood lymphocytes were stimulated and analyzed for T-cell responses using tetramer, T-cell cloning, and TCR analysis.

Findings:

  • A low-level, typically monoclonal, cytolytic T lymphocyte response against the MAGE-3 peptide was detected in 4 out of 9 patients with tumor regression.
  • Only 1 out of 14 patients with progressive disease exhibited a similar T-cell response.

Implications:

  • These findings suggest a correlation between tumoral regressions and T-cell responses against MAGE-3 peptide vaccination in metastatic melanoma.
  • This could inform future cancer vaccine development and patient selection strategies.

More Related Videos

Generation of a Novel Dendritic-cell Vaccine Using Melanoma and Squamous Cancer Stem Cells12:43

Generation of a Novel Dendritic-cell Vaccine Using Melanoma and Squamous Cancer Stem Cells

Published on: January 6, 2014

Whole-animal Imaging and Flow Cytometric Techniques for Analysis of Antigen-specific CD8+ T Cell Responses after Nanoparticle Vaccination11:07

Whole-animal Imaging and Flow Cytometric Techniques for Analysis of Antigen-specific CD8+ T Cell Responses after Nanoparticle Vaccination

Published on: April 29, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Overview
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.