Influence of gene modified (IL-7, IL-4 and B7) tumor cell vaccines on tumor antigen presentation

We have previously shown that tumor cellsgenetically modified to co-express IL-4 or IL-7 and B7.1have increased immunogenicity and provided vaccinessuperior to single gene transfectants or tumor cells/adjuvant mixture.Tumor antigens can be presented eitherdirectly by tumor cells or be indirectly represented byhost APC(cross-priming).Here we asked whether B7.1and IL-7 or IL-4 improved in an additive fashion one pathway of antigen presentation or complemented each other by improving preferentially different pathways of antigen presentation.