Targeting of antigens to activated dendritic cells in vivo cures metastatic melanoma in mice.

Anti (alpha)-DEC-205 antibodies target to the DEC-205 receptor that mediates antigen presentation to T cells by dendritic cells. To exploit these properties for immunization purposes, we conjugated the melanoma antigen tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-2 to alphaDEC-205 antibodies and immunized mice with these conjugates together with dendritic cell-activating oligonucleotides (CpG). Upon injection of the melanoma cell line B16, alphaDEC-TRP immunized mice were protected against tumor growth.