Inventors:
David S. Terman - Pebble Beach CA 93953
International Classification:
A01N 6300
US Classification:
424 931, 424 932, 424 9321, 424 937, 424 9371, 435372, 4353721, 4353722, 4353723
Abstract:
Superantigens, including staphylococcal enterotoxins, are useful agents for killing tumor cells, enhancing antitumor immunity and treating cancer in a tumor-bearing host. Other useful superantigens include Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin, toxic shock syndrome toxins, mycoplasma antigens, mycobacteria antigens, minor lymphocyte stimulating antigens, heat shock proteins, stress peptides and derivatives thereof. The immune system of a subject with cancer is contacted with tumor cells that have been transfected with a nucleic acid encoding a superantigen or biologically active polypeptide of a superantigen. Alternatively, transfected accessory cells, inmunocytes or fibroblasts are used. Expression of the superantigen in the host induces T cell proliferation leading to increased antitumor immunity and tumor cell killing. The superantigen encoding nucleic acid may be administered to the tumor in vivo to transfect tumor cells, wherein superantigen expression induces a tumoricidal immune response. Furthermore, transfected cells incubated ex vivo with an immunocyte population, particularly T lymphocytes, tumoricidally activate the population; such activated cells are then administered to the tumor-bearing host.