Tumor progression-related transmembrane protein aspartate-β-hydroxylase is a target for immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor survival rate due to recurrent intrahepatic metastases and lack of effective adjuvant therapy. Aspartate-β-hydroxylase (ASPH) is an attractive cellular target since it is a highly conserved transmembrane protein overexpressed in both murine and human HCC tumors, and promotes a malignant phenotype as characterized by enhanced tumor cell migration and invasion.

Methods

Dendritic cells (DCs), expanded and isolated from the spleen, were incubated with a cytokine cocktail to optimize IL-12 secretion and co-stimulatory molecule expression, then subsequently loaded with ASPH protein for immunization. Mice were injected with syngeneic BNL HCC tumor cells followed by subcutaneous inoculation with 5-10×10(5) ASPH loaded DCs u

SUBMITTER: Shimoda M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3328647 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature