delta-like ligand 4 vaccine

Delta-like ligand 4 vaccine is a DNA-based therapeutic vaccine designed to induce immune responses against delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4), a Notch signaling pathway ligand predominantly expressed in endothelial tip cells and involved in the regulation of angiogenesis. The formulation most commonly described uses the pVAX1 plasmid encoding the DLL4 gene (pVAX1-DLL4), often administered with polyester amine to enhance gene transfection. In preclinical (mouse) models of hepatocellular carcinoma, immunization with the DLL4 gene vaccine reduces tumor size and weight, prolongs survival, and elevates both humoral (DLL4 antibody) and cellular (notably increased CD4+ T cells, reduced CD8+ T cells, higher IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma) immune responses. Mechanistically, the anti-tumor effects are mediated through inhibition of tumor angiogenesis and enhancement of anti-tumor immunity, rather than induction of apoptosis. No significant toxicity or adverse effects were observed in mice. The data indicate potential utility for anti-cancer immunotherapy, especially in liver cancer, but there is no evidence of any clinical development in humans as of the information available[1][2].

Other names

delta-like ligand 4 gene vaccineDLL4 DNA vaccineDLL-4 DNA vaccineDLL 4 DNA vaccine