TY - JOUR T1 - <em>In Vitro</em> Generation of Cytolytic T Cells Against Human Melanoma Cells Overexpressing HDM2 JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 2141 LP - 2152 VL - 24 IS - 4 AU - AFSANEH SORURI AU - AFSHIN FAYYAZI AU - STEFANIE GANGL AU - CHRISTIAN GRIESINGER AU - CHRISTIAN A. ALBRECHT AU - THILO SCHLOTT Y1 - 2004/07/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/24/4/2141.abstract N2 - Background: Previous experiments have shown that tumour-associated antigens can be exploited for a successful anti-tumour immunisation. Previous reports demonstrated that oncoprotein MDM2 (HDM2) contains two highly conserved MHC class I binding motifs, MDM2100 and MDM2441, and that dendritic cells (DC) presenting MDM2100 stimulate an effective CTL reaction against melanoma cells. Materials and Methods: In this study, we investigated the CTL-inducing capacity of autologous human dendritic cells pulsed with fragment HDM2441. Results: In vitro HDM2441-primed T lymphocytes revealed a strong proliferation activity, released Th-1-associated cytokines, and possessed an effective anti-tumour activity causing apoptosis in HDM2441-overexpressing melanoma cells. Cytotoxic assay demonstrated that, in parallel to melanoma cells, up to 65% of primed T cells also underwent apoptosis. Conclusion: These data suggest that HDM2441 may be exploited for broad-spectrum DC-based trials against metastatic melanomas overexpressing HDM2, and point out that the efficacy of such immunotherapeutical approaches may be limited via T cell apoptosis. Copyright© 2004 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved ER -