Definition

A cell-based cancer vaccine composed of autologous dendritic cells (DCs) transduced with a recombinant adenoviral vector encoding three full length human melanoma associated antigens (MAAs), tyrosinase, melan-A (MART-1) and the melanoma antigen A6 (MAGEA6), with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon intradermal administration, adenovirus encoding tyrosinase/MART-1/MAGEA6-transduced autologous DC vaccine may stimulate a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against tyrosinase/MART-1/MAGEA6-positive tumor cells, which may result in tumor cell death and decreased tumor growth. Tyrosinase, a melanoma-specific differentiation antigen, catalyzes the first step of melanin synthesis in melanocytes. Vaccination with multi-antigen modified DC may improve the efficacy of the DC immunotherapy.