Definition

A dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer vaccine against the tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2; EGFR2, ERBB2) and 3 (HER3; ErbB3), with potential immunomodulatory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration of the anti-HER2/HER3 DC vaccine, the immune system gets exposed to HER2 and HER3, which may stimulate a potent cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against HER-2/3-positive tumor cells. This may result in tumor cell death and decreased tumor growth. HER-2/3, members of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family of receptor tyrosine kinases, are overexpressed by a variety of cancers.