Intranasal therapeutic peptide vaccine promotes efficient induction and trafficking of cytotoxic t cell response for the clearance of HPV vaginal tumors

Gloria Sierra, Stephanie Dorta-Estremera, Venkatesh L. Hegde, Sita M.K. Nookala, Ananta V. Yanamandra, K. Jagannadha Sastry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cancers continue to affect millions of women around the world, and the five year survival rate under the current standard of care for these cancers is less than 60% in some demographics. Therefore there is still an unmet need to develop an effective therapy that can be easily administered to treat established HPV cervical cancer lesions. We sought to investigate the potential of an intranasal HPV peptide therapeutic vaccine incorporating the combination of α-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) and CpG-ODN adjuvants (TVAC) against established HPV genital tumors in a syngeneic C57BL/6J mouse model. We obtained evidence to show that TVAC, delivered by the mucosal intranasal route, induced high frequencies of antigen-specific CD8 T cells concurrent with significant reduction in the immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and myeloid derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), correlating with sustained elimination of established HPV genital tumors in over 85% of mice. Inclusion of both the adjuvants in the vaccine was necessary for significant increase of antigen-specific CD8 T cells to the tumor and antitumor efficacy because vaccination incorporating either adjuvant alone was inefficient. These results strongly support the utility of the TVAC administered by needle-free intranasal route as a safe and effective strategy for the treatment of established genital HPV tumors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number259
JournalVaccines
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2020

Keywords

  • Adjuvants
  • Human papillomavirus
  • Intranasal immunization
  • Mucosal immunity
  • Therapeutic vaccine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology (medical)

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Small Animal Imaging Facility
  • Research Animal Support Facility

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