Definition

A polyepitope plasmid DNA therapeutic cancer vaccine containing the mammalian expression vector pUMVC3 encoding multiple epitopes derived from tumor-associated antigens (TAAs): human insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon intradermal vaccination, anti-IGFBP2 plasmid DNA vaccine AST-201 enters cells which process the plasmid, and express the epitopes and present them to antigen-presenting cells (APCs). This activates the immune system to mount a combined response from specific T-helper type 1 (Th1) cells, memory T-cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against IGFBP2-expressing tumor cells. IGFBP2, overexpressed in certain tumor cell types, plays a key role in cellular proliferation and survival.