Polyepitope DNA vaccine inducing T-cell-mediated immune response against cancer-specific antigens is a promising tool for selective elimination of tumor cells. Breast cancer-specific polyepitope DNA vaccine was designed using TEpredict and PolyCTLDesigner software on the basis of immunogenic peptides of HER2 and Mammaglobin-1 (Mam) tumor antigens. LPS-free preparations of plasmid DNA encoding polyepitope T-cell antigen and full-length copies of HER2 and Mam antigens were obtained. TaqMan-PCR systems for evaluation of the expression of immunogens in cells were created. The protocol of vaccine DNA delivery into dendritic cells was optimized. Expression of the target immunogens in dendritic cells derived from human peripheral blood mononuclear fraction after transfection with plasmid DNA preparations is demonstrated.
Keywords: breast cancer; dendritic cells; polyepitope DNA vaccine.