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Efficient Anti-Tumor Immunotherapy Using Tumor Epitope-Coated Biodegradable Nanoparticles Combined With Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid and an Anti-PD1 Monoclonal Antibody

  • Sang-Hyun Kim (Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Ji-Hyun Park (Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Sun-Jae Lee (Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Hee-Sung Lee (Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Jae-Kyung Jung (Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Young-Ran Lee (Center for Convergence Bioceramic Materials, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology) ;
  • Hyun-Il Cho (Research and Development Division, ViGenCell Inc.) ;
  • Jeong-Ki Kim (Department of Pharmacy, Korea University College of Pharmacy) ;
  • Kyungjae Kim (Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University) ;
  • Chan-Su Park (Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Chong-Kil Lee (Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University)
  • Received : 2022.10.05
  • Accepted : 2022.10.25
  • Published : 2022.10.31
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Abstract

Vaccination with tumor peptide epitopes associated with MHC class I molecules is an attractive approach directed at inducing tumor-specific CTLs. However, challenges remain in improving the therapeutic efficacy of peptide epitope vaccines, including the low immunogenicity of peptide epitopes and insufficient stimulation of innate immune components in vivo. To overcome this, we aimed to develop and test an innovative strategy that elicits potent CTL responses against tumor epitopes. The essential feature of this strategy is vaccination using tumor epitope-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) in combination with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly-IC) and anti-PD1 mAb. Carboxylated NPs were prepared using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and poly(ethylene/maleic anhydride), covalently conjugated with anti-H-2Kb mAbs, and then attached to H-2Kb molecules isolated from the tumor mass (H-2b). Native peptides associated with the H-2Kb molecules of H-2Kb-attached NPs were exchanged with tumor peptide epitopes. Tumor peptide epitope-loaded NPs efficiently induced tumor-specific CTLs when used to immunize tumor-bearing mice as well as normal mice. This activity of the NPs significantly was increased when co-administered with poly-IC. Accordingly, the NPs exerted significant anti-tumor effects in mice implanted with EG7-OVA thymoma or B16-F10 melanoma, and the anti-tumor activity of the NPs was significantly increased when applied in combination with poly-IC. The most potent anti-tumor activity was observed when the NPs were co-administered with both poly-IC and anti-PD1 mAb. Immunization with tumor epitope-loaded NPs in combination with poly-IC and anti-PD1 mAb in tumor-bearing mice can be a powerful means to induce tumor-specific CTLs with therapeutic anti-tumor activity.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (NRF-2020R1A2C1009484, MRC-2017R1A5A2015541). The authors would like to thank Jonathan Yewdell, M.D., Ph.D., Cellular Biology Section Laboratory of Viral Diseases NIAID, NIH, MD, USA, for his critical and productive comments.

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