Evaluation of different plasmid DNA delivery systems for immunization against HER2/neu in a transgenic murine model of mammary carcinoma

Studies of DNA vaccination against HER2/neu showed the effectiveness of immunization protocols in models of transplantable or spontaneous tumors; scarce information, however, has been provided to identify the procedure of DNA administration that more effectively contributes to the activation of immune system against spontaneously arising HER2/neu-positive tumors. We compared the effectiveness of different procedures of DNA vaccine delivery (intradermic injection (ID), gene gun (GG) delivery and intramuscular injection (IM) alone or with electroporation) in a murine transgenic model of mammary carcinoma overexpressing HER2/neu. We highlighted the role of DNA delivery system in the success of DNA vaccination showing that, among the analysed methods, intramuscular injection of the vaccine, particularly when associated to electroporation, elicits a better protection against HER2/neu spontaneous tumor development inducing antibody and cell-mediated immune responsiveness against HER2/neu and a Th1 polarization of the immune response.