Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Generation and Expansion of Primary, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Tumor Lines
08:01

Generation and Expansion of Primary, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Tumor Lines

Published on: April 21, 2022

Control of human mesothelin-expressing tumors by DNA vaccines

C-L Chang1, T-C Wu, C-F Hung

  • 1Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.

Gene Therapy
|June 22, 2007
PubMed

Insights

A DNA vaccine targeting mesothelin (Hmeso) effectively controlled ovarian cancer in mice. This immunotherapy approach stimulated both T-cell and antibody immune responses, improving survival against mesothelin-expressing tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Mesothelin is a promising target antigen for cancer immunotherapy.
  • Mesothelin-expressing cancers include ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding human mesothelin (pcDNA3-Hmeso) against ovarian cancer in a preclinical mouse model.
  • To elucidate the immunological mechanisms underlying the antitumor effects induced by the DNA vaccine.

Main Methods:

  • C57BL/6 mice were challenged with Hmeso-expressing ovarian cancer cells (Defb29 Vegf-luc/Hmeso).
  • Mice were vaccinated with the pcDNA3-Hmeso DNA vaccine.
  • Tumor growth was monitored using noninvasive bioluminescence imaging.
  • Immune responses were analyzed through lymphocyte depletion and serum adoptive transfer studies.

Main Results:

  • Vaccination with pcDNA3-Hmeso significantly inhibited tumor growth and improved survival in mice.
  • The antitumor effect was associated with both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell immune responses.
  • Humoral immune responses (antibody-mediated immunity) also contributed to the therapeutic outcome.

Conclusions:

  • The pcDNA3-Hmeso DNA vaccine demonstrates potent therapeutic potential against mesothelin-expressing tumors.
  • Effective antitumor immunity relies on a combination of T-cell-mediated and antibody-mediated responses.
  • This study supports the development of mesothelin-targeted DNA vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.

More Related Videos

Orthotopic Implantation and Peripheral Immune Cell Monitoring in the II-45 Syngeneic Rat Mesothelioma Model09:31

Orthotopic Implantation and Peripheral Immune Cell Monitoring in the II-45 Syngeneic Rat Mesothelioma Model

Published on: October 2, 2015

Implantation and Monitoring by PET/CT of an Orthotopic Model of Human Pleural Mesothelioma in Athymic Mice07:54

Implantation and Monitoring by PET/CT of an Orthotopic Model of Human Pleural Mesothelioma in Athymic Mice

Published on: December 21, 2019

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.
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
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...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...