Induction of antitumor immunity by dendritic cells loaded with membrane-translocating mucin 1 Peptide antigen.

To investigate the role of enhanced antigen presentation in dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy. Here, we describe the development of a cell-penetrating mucin 1 (MUC1) antigen and its immunotherapeutic potential against tumors. After animal groups received two immunizations of MUC1-MPA(11)P-pulsed DCs, we observed a marked tumor regression compared with the mice treated with DCs alone or DCs pulsed with MUC1 peptide. We confirmed the migration and homing of DCs in the popliteal lymph node using magnetic resonance imaging during the study. In summary, enhanced antigen uptake using an MPA(11)P delivery molecule improves cell therapy.