One type of anticancer vaccine relies on the administration of DNA constructs encoding one or multiple tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). The ultimate objective of these preparations, which can be naked or vectored by non-pathogenic viruses, bacteria or yeast cells, is to drive the synthesis of TAAs in the context of an immunostimulatory milieu, resulting in the (re-)elicitation of a tumor-targeting immune response. In spite of encouraging preclinical results, the clinical efficacy of DNA-based vaccines employed as standalone immunotherapeutic interventions in cancer patients appears to be limited. Thus, efforts are currently being devoted to the development of combinatorial regimens that allow DNA-based anticancer vaccines to elicit clinically relevant immune responses. Here, we discuss recent advances in the preclinical and clinical development of this therapeutic paradigm.
Keywords: AFP, α-fetoprotein; APC, antigen-presenting cell; CDR, complementarity-determining region; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; CIN, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; CTLA4, cytotoxic T lymphocyte protein 4; DAMP, damage-associated molecular pattern; DC, dendritic cell; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; GM-CSF, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor; GX-188E; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; HPV, human papillomavirus; IL, interleukin; OS, overall survival; OVA, ovalbumin; PAP, prostate acid phosphatase; SCGB2A2, secretoglobin, family 2A, member 2; SOX2, SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2; T, brachyury homolog; TAA, tumor-associated antigen; TLR, Toll-like receptor; TRA, tumor rejection antigen; Treg, regulatory T cell; VGX-3100; WT1, Wilms tumor 1; adjuvants; dendritic cell; electroporation; mucosal immunity.