Transgenic B7-H3 therapy induces tumor-specific immune response in human oral squamous cell cancer: an in vitro study

ObjectiveTumors may present antigens to T cells but lack costimulatory signals which are necessary to initialize an effective immunologic response. This study aimed to develop a tumor cell–based cancer vaccine by genetically modifying oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC) cell line Tca8113 with human B7-H3 immunoglobulin, and to evaluate its efficacy in enhancing the tumor-specific immune response.Study designHuman B7-H3 gene was extracted from isolated T lymphocytes of healthy volunteers. Tumor cell vaccine TCV-hB7-H3 and mock control were prepared by transfecting Tca8113 cells with B7-H3 or mock vector. After being stimulated with TCV-hB7-H3 or mock control, the proliferation, IFN-μ expression, and cytotoxicity of the T cells were assessed.ResultsThe Tca8113 cells transfected with human B7-H3 significantly enhanced the proliferation, IFN-μ expression, and cytotoxicity of the T cells.ConclusionsGenetically modified OSCC cells encoding B7-H3 enhance the induction of tumor specific immune response.