Definition

A dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer vaccine composed of mature polarized DCs (alpha-type-1 polarized DCs) loaded with the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) phosphoprotein pp65 (UL83), with potential immunostimulatory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, the CMV pp65 peptide-loaded alpha-type-1 polarized DC vaccine exposes the immune system to the CMV pp65 peptide, which may result in a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against CMV pp65-expressing tumor cells leading to tumor cell lysis. The CMV pp65 protein is the primary component of the enveloped subviral particle of CMV and is expressed in certain tumor types.