E7 DNA vaccine

The E7 DNA vaccine is a therapeutic vaccine designed to combat Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, a primary cause of cervical cancer. It functions by delivering DNA encoding the HPV E7 protein, which acts as an antigen. This leads to the production of the E7 protein within host cells, subsequently stimulating the immune system to mount antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses and IFN-γ production against cells expressing the E7 protein. Studies have shown that its antitumor activity, particularly against established tumors, can be significantly augmented when co-delivered with IL-2 cDNA and anti-4-1BB antibodies, leading to increased tumor cure rates and long-term antitumor immune memory.