Phage display particles expressing tumor-specific antigens induce preventive and therapeutic anti-tumor immunity in murine p815 model.

The efficacy of phage display particles expressing tumor antigen P1A35-43 in inducing protective and therapeutic anti-tumor immune responses were studied. A protective immune response against a lethal progressive P815 mastocytoma tumor cell challenge was established after subcutaneous injection of phage display particles. Furthermore, the vaccine suppressed growth of pre-existing tumors. Immunization with the hybrid phage particles elicited P1A(35-43) specific CTL responses and a Th1-dominated immune response with phage particle-specific secretion of IFN-gamma but not IL-4. Our results indicate that phage display particles might be a useful vaccine form for tumor-associated antigen epitopes in tumor immunotherapy. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.