The efficacy of targeting strategy with FA moieties was demonstrated using the augmented cellular uptake of the FA-conjugated system on overexpressed folate receptor alpha (FRα) cells (MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell line).
Our previous identification of degenerate HLA-class II epitopes from human FR led to the development of a broad coverage epitope pool potentially useful in augmenting antigen-specific immune responses in most patients.<b>Patients and Methods:</b> We conducted a phase I clinical trial testing safety and immunogenicity of this vaccine, enrolling patients with ovarian cancer or breast cancer who completed conventional treatment and who showed no evidence of disease.
FR-β expression was seen in 21% of ovarian cancer samples, 9% of breast cancer samples, and 55% of colorectal cancer samples.Expression was weak or moderate.
Our findings indicate that Ser1841Asn BRCA1 mutation is able to activate specific protein pathways that are not triggered by other single aminoacid changes and pinpoint to the role TD52 and FOL1 as potential markers in breast cancer patients carrying this particular BRCA1 gene alteration.