Translational research for cancer vaccine therapy with poxviral vectors expressing TAA and costimulatory molecules

Cancer vaccine therapy utilizing recombinant viral vectors is one of the newest immunotherapies available for treatment of cancers. The Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, NCI/NIH, USA, has been conducting a translational research program for the purpose of developing active immunotherapy to induce anti-tumor immune responses in cancer patients. They developed novel vaccines encoding transgenes for tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and a triad of costimulatory molecules, which are designated as "TRICOM" vectors. Experimental murine studies have demonstrated that TRICOM vectors effectively enhance TAA-specific T-cell immune responses followed by cure of mice. The efficacy has been evaluated in clinical trials for a variety of cancers at numerous cancer centers around the USA. The vaccine strategy has been now expanded to the combination therapy with TRICOM vectors and other cancer therapies such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Here the translational research in LTIB is reviewed including preclinical findings and clinical applications. These studies promise to be a valuable point of reference for cancer vaccine research in Japan.