Resumen
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and improved treatments are needed. The present research focused on the use of a DNA vaccine targeted at one of the commonly found tumor-associated antigens, human MUC1. MUC1 transgenic mice were vaccinated with MUC1 DNA mixed with bone-marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Then, inflammation-driven colon cancer was induced by injection of a carcinogen, azoxymethane, and administration of dextran-sulfate-sodium-containing drinking water. This mouse model of colon cancer resembles the colon cancer found in humans. The number and size of colonic tumors were compared to mice vaccinated with MUC1 DNA alone or BMDCs alone. The combination of MUC1 DNA and BMDCs reduced the tumor burden more than in the controls, showing an additive preventive effect. These findings demonstrate that in this human MUC1 transgenic mouse model, MUC1-expressing colonic tumors can be partially prevented by a vaccine containing MUC1 DNA and BMDCs.