Cell therapy for pancreatic cancer: MUC1-specific cytotoxic T cell and MUC1 mRNA introduction dendritic cell therapy

MUC1 is a tumor-associated antigen that is overexpressed in invasive ductal carcinomas of the pancreas (PC). MUC1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) recognize MUC1 molecules in an HLA-unrestricted manner. We have reported the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy (AIT) with CTLs stimulated by autologous pancreatic tumors and vaccination with a variety of peptides. We also have reported the use of AIT with CTLs (MUC1-CTLs)stimulated by an MUC1-expressing human pancreatic cancer cell line, YPK-1. AIT with MUC1-CTLs for unresectable pancreatic cancer did not improve survival, although no patient without liver metastasis developed liver metastasis during the study. To overcome these limitations, we developed an AIT using a combination of MUC1-CTLs and dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with MUC1-peptide. This AIT showed good results. In our next study, we are planning AIT with MUC1-CTLs and DCs transfected with MUC1-mRNA for unresectable PC.