Cell-mediated immune responses to MUC1 fusion protein coupled to mannan

The immunotherapy of cancer requires the definition of a suitable target for and the induction of a CD8(+) cytoxic lymphocyte reaction. In breast cancer, particularly mucins (MUCl) of the variable number of tandem repeat sequence may be a suitable target but there has been a problem in inducing a cytotoxic response. MUCl peptides, conjugated to carriers (keyhole-limpet hemocyanin or diphtheria toxoid) induce a humoral response and give poor tumor protection in mice and there is little cellular immunity. However, when MUCl fusion protein is conjugated to mannan under oxidizing conditions, a cellular immune response in induced, with significant tumor protection, cytotoxic T lymphocytes and little antibody. The procedure may also be useful for other antigens. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.