Manipulation of the immune response of mice against neu/HER2-expressing tumours

The rat oncogene neu, and its human homologue HER2, can both cause cell transformation in vitro and tumour formation in vivo, albeit by different mechanisms. 3T3 cells (B104.1.1) transfected with mutated neu (neu) grow as solid tumours in Swiss mice. The purpose of this study was to determine whether immunization with extracts of different 3T3 lines expressing these oncoproteins would lead to a cross-reactive response, and whether this response could alter B104. 1.1 tumour growth. Both humoral and cellular cross-reactive responses were observed, which were capable of inhibiting tumour growth in vivo. This cross-reactive response may be relevant to the immunotherapy of HER2-expressing tumours in humans.