Her-2 neu dna vaccine having anti-cancer activity

Abstract

The present invention relates to human Her-2/neu expressing plasmid constructs having anti-cancer activity and a DNA vaccine comprising same for preventing and/or treating cancer. The Her-2/neu DNA vaccines of the present invention can be effectively used as a therapeutic vaccine in reducing metastasis after tumor surgery or as a prophylactic vaccine for people with genetic high risk.

1 . An Her-2/neu plasmid construct having anti-cancer activity which is prepared by inserting a truncated human Her-2/neu gene lacking the intracellular domain into plasmid pTV2 or pCK.  
     
     
         2 . The plasmid construct of  claim 1 , wherein the human Her-2/neu gene has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         3 . The plasmid construct of  claim 2 , which is pNeu TM  (KCCM-10393) or pCK TM  (KCCM-10396)  
     
     
         4 . The plasmid construct of  claim 1 , wherein the truncated human Her-2/neu gene further lacks the transmembrane domain.  
     
     
         5 . The plasmid construct of  claim 4 , wherein the human Her-2/neu gene has the nucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         6 . The plasmid construct of  claim 5 , which is pNeu ECD  (KCCM-10394) or pCK ECD  (KCCM-10395).  
     
     
         7 . The plasmid construct of  claim 1 , wherein the signal peptide of the human Her-2/neu gene is replaced by the signal peptide of herpes simplex type I glycoprotein D (gD).  
     
     
         8 . The plasmid construct of  claim 7 , which is pNeu TM-gDs .  
     
     
         9 . The plasmid construct of  claim 4 , wherein the signal peptide of the human Her-2/neu gene is replaced by the signal peptide of herpes simplex type I glycoprotein D (gD).  
     
     
         10 . The plasmid construct of  claim 7 , which is pNeu ECD-gDs .  
     
     
         11 . The plasmid construct of  claim 1 , which further translates a cytokine gene besides the human Her-2/neu gene.  
     
     
         12 . The plasmid construct of  claim 11 , wherein the cytokine gene is selected from the group consisting of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L), early T lymphocyte activation-1 (Eta-1), interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-15 and IL-18.  
     
     
         13 . A DNA vaccine for preventing and/or treating cancer, which comprises the plasmid construct of  claim 1  as an effective ingredient and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         14 . The DNA vaccine of  claim 13 , which further comprises a cytokine gene expressing plasmid.  
     
     
         15 . The DNA vaccine of  claim 14 , wherein the cytokine gene is selected from the group consisting of GM-CSF, Flt3L, Eta-1, IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18.  
     
     
         16 . A method for preventing and/or treating cancer, which comprises the step of administering an effective amount of the DNA vaccine of  claim 13.