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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019
Transgenic B7-H3 therapy induces tumor-specific immune response in human oral squamous cell cancer: an in vitro study
Hong Y Yang1, Mei Chu, Li W Zheng
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University, Shenzhen, China. hyyang192@hotmail.com
Objective:
Tumors may present antigens to T cells but lack costimulatory signals which are necessary to initialize an effective immunologic response. This study aimed to develop a tumor cell-based cancer vaccine by genetically modifying oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC) cell line Tca8113 with human B7-H3 immunoglobulin, and to evaluate its efficacy in enhancing the tumor-specific immune response.
Study Design:
Human B7-H3 gene was extracted from isolated T lymphocytes of healthy volunteers. Tumor cell vaccine TCV-hB7-H3 and mock control were prepared by transfecting Tca8113 cells with B7-H3 or mock vector. After being stimulated with TCV-hB7-H3 or mock control, the proliferation, IFN-mu expression, and cytotoxicity of the T cells were assessed.
Results:
The Tca8113 cells transfected with human B7-H3 significantly enhanced the proliferation, IFN-mu expression, and cytotoxicity of the T cells.
Conclusions:
Genetically modified OSCC cells encoding B7-H3 enhance the induction of tumor specific immune response.
Insights
Genetically modified oral squamous cell cancer cells expressing B7-H3 can enhance anti-tumor immunity. This novel cancer vaccine strategy boosts T cell proliferation, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production, and cytotoxic activity against tumors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Tumors can evade immune detection by lacking essential costimulatory signals for T cell activation.
- Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) presents a significant challenge due to immune evasion mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a tumor cell-based cancer vaccine using genetically modified OSCC cells.
- To enhance anti-tumor immune responses by introducing the human B7-H3 gene into OSCC cells.
Main Methods:
- The human B7-H3 gene was isolated from T lymphocytes.
- Oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC) cell line Tca8113 was transfected with the B7-H3 gene or a mock vector to create a tumor cell vaccine (TCV-hB7-H3) and a control.
- T cell responses, including proliferation, IFN-γ expression, and cytotoxicity, were measured after stimulation with the vaccine or control.
Main Results:
- Tca8113 cells engineered to express human B7-H3 significantly improved T cell proliferation.
- Enhanced interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) expression was observed in T cells stimulated with the B7-H3 modified cells.
- Increased T cell cytotoxicity against tumor cells was demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Genetically modified OSCC cells expressing B7-H3 effectively enhance the induction of tumor-specific immune responses.
- This approach holds promise for developing novel cancer vaccines against OSCC.
