DDX3X vaccine

The DDX3X vaccine is an experimental cancer vaccine designed to target the DEAD/H (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp/His) box polypeptide 3, X-linked (DDX3X) protein. DDX3X has been identified as a tumor-specific antigen expressed in CD133+ cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are a subpopulation of cancer cells responsible for self-renewal, tumor heterogeneity, and resistance to conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. Preclinical research, notably from Niigata University, has demonstrated that vaccination against DDX3X can induce potent antitumor immunity by priming type 1 helper T (Th1) and type 17 helper T (Th17) cells, leading to the release of interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin-17 (IL-17). This immune response specifically targets and eradicates CSCs, potentially preventing tumor recurrence and providing a therapeutic option for cancers such as melanoma, colon cancer, and small cell lung cancer.

Other names

DEAD/H box polypeptide 3, X-linked vaccineDDX3X cancer vaccineDDX-3X cancer vaccineDDX 3X cancer vaccine