CD4 T-cell help is required during the generation and maintenance of effective antitumor CD8 T cell-mediated immunity. The goal of this study was to determine whether HER-2/neu-specific CD8 T-cell immunity could be elicited using HER-2/neu-derived MHC class II "helper" peptides, which contain encompassed HLA-A2-binding motifs. Nineteen HLA-A2 patients with HER-2/neu-overexpressing cancers recei...

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) is one of four members of the type I family of tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors. Other members of this family include the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, HER1), HER-3, and HER-4. These proteins are localized to the cell membrane. Their structure includes an intracellular cytoplasmic domain that exhibits tyrosine kinase activity (ex...

Overexpression of HER-2 and VEGF plays a key role in the development and metastasis of several human cancers. Many FDA-approved therapies targeting both HER-2 (Trastuzumab, Herceptin) and VEGF (Bevacizumab, Avastin) are expensive, have unacceptable toxicities and are often associated with the development of resistance. Here, we evaluate the dual antitumor effects of combining designed particula...