GENE THERAPY OF SOLID TUMORS WITH INTERFERONS ALONE OR WITH OTHER IMMUNO-EFFECTOR PROTEINS

摘要

The present invention relates to vectors and compositions for gene therapy strategies against solid tumors, particularly malignant tumors. In one aspect, the invention is directed to a solid tumor vaccine comprising tumor cells transfected to express interferon-α in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, and to a method for treating a solid tumor by administering such a vaccine. Preferably, the tumor cells are also transfected to express an immunomodulatory molecule, such as interferon-η, interferon-β, interferon-φ, interferon-τ, tumor necrosis factor-α, tumor necrosis factor-β, interleukin-2, interleukin-7, interleukin-12, interleukin-15, B7-1 T cell costimulatory molecule, B7-2 T cell costimulatory molecule, immune cell adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 T cell costimulatory molecule, granulocyte colony stimulatory factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulatory factor, and combinations thereof, with the proviso that the immunomodulatory molecule is not interferon-α. In yet a further embodiment, a soluble immunomodulatory molecule can be included in a vaccine of the invention. The method comprises introducing into a subject suffering a solid tumor a therapeutically effective number of tumor cells from a solid tumor, which tumor cells are transfected to express interferon-α. Preferably, the tumor cells are also transfected to express an immunomodulatory molecule, with the proviso that the immunomodulatory molecule is not interferon-α. Alternatively, a therapeutically effective number of additional tumor cells transfected to express an immunomodulatory molecule ca be introduced into the subject.