Caerin 肽与树突状细胞疫苗在 4T-1 小鼠乳腺癌模型中的协同抗肿瘤效应

Background/Objectives : Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.

This study aimed to investigate the synergistic antitumor effects of caerin peptides (F1/F3) combined with dendritic cell (DC) vaccines in a 4T-1 murine breast cancer model, providing new insights for breast cancer immunotherapy. Methods : In vitro experiments evaluated the effects of F1/F3 on 4T-1 cell proliferation and apoptosis. A 4T-1 breast cancer mouse model was established, and treatments included F1/F3 alone, DC vaccines (DCV 1 : loaded with whole tumor antigens; DCV 2 : loaded with F1/F3-induced apoptotic antigens), or combination therapy. Flow cytometry analyzed immune cell subsets in the tumor microenvironment and lymph nodes, while ELISA measured cytokine levels.

Results : F1/F3 significantly inhibited 4T-1 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis while suppressing tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo. Flow cytometry revealed increased infiltration of CD4 + T cells and cDC 1 in tumors, along with reduced PD-L1 expression.

DCV 2 exhibited stronger T-cell proliferation induction and lower IL-10 secretion in vitro. Combination therapy with DCV 2 and F1/F3 demonstrated superior tumor suppression compared to monotherapy. Conclusions : F1/F3 enhances antitumor immunity by modulating the tumor microenvironment, and its combination with DCV 2 yields synergistic effects.

This study provides experimental evidence for combination immunotherapy in breast cancer, with potential for further optimization of DC vaccine design to improve efficacy.