Journal article
Therapeutic efficacy of cancer stem cell-based vaccine in colorectal murine model: reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival
BMC cancer
03/29/2026
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-026-15925-3
PMID: 41904455
Abstract
Background
Various forms of cancer immunotherapy are promising in overcoming the obstacles posed by resistance to conventional chemo- and radiotherapy. Cancer vaccines could serve as beneficial adjuncts to conventional therapies, offering the potential for fine-tuning to reduce relapse and related mortality. Continuing prior investigations, a therapeutic colorectal cancer stem cell (CSC)-based vaccine was developed to explore whether this vaccination could inhibit the formation and prolong survival rates in a mouse model of colorectal cancer.
Methods
CSCs were enriched from the CT-26 cell line using sphere formation assay and characterized by real-time q-PCR for stemness genes (Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog) and tumorigenesis assay in syngeneic BALB/c mice. Different groups of mice were intraperitoneally immunized with the CSC lysate-based vaccine, the parental cell lysate-based vaccine, and control groups following subcutaneous challenge with CT-26 cells. Beyond analyzing tumor growth and survival rates, histological analysis of tumor tissues was conducted using comprehensive hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and antibody responses in vaccinated mice were evaluated by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence.
Results
Immunization of tumor-bearing mice with the CT-26 CSC lysate-based vaccine caused delayed tumor formation, reduced tumor growth rate, and enhanced survival rate compared to the control groups. The histological responses observed in the lysate vaccination subgroups indicated a potent immune response. Furthermore, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analyses demonstrated the production of anti-CSC and anti-parental cell antibodies in mice immunized with CT-26 CSC and parental cell lysates.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that targeting CSCs using a CSC lysate-based vaccine can stimulate cellular and humoral immunity and represent a novel therapeutic approach to complement conventional antitumor therapies.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Therapeutic efficacy of cancer stem cell-based vaccine in colorectal murine model: reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival
- Creators
- Farideh Hashemi - Iran University of Medical SciencesMasoumeh Dehghan Manshadi - Iran University of Medical SciencesSadegh Safaei - Iran University of Medical SciencesHossein Aminianfar - University of TehranMahmood Bozorgmehr - Iran University of Medical SciencesLeila Eini - Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, SR.C, IranAhmad Shariftabrizi - University of IowaMahdieh Razmi - Iran University of Medical SciencesMarzieh Naseri - Tufts UniversityRoya Ghods - Iran University of Medical SciencesZahra Madjd - Iran University of Medical Sciences
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- BMC cancer
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12885-026-15925-3
- PMID
- 41904455
- NLM abbreviation
- BMC Cancer
- ISSN
- 1471-2407
- eISSN
- 1471-2407
- Publisher
- Springer
- Grant note
- 98-3-14-16152 / Iran University of Medical Sciences
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 03/29/2026
- Academic Unit
- Radiology
- Record Identifier
- 9985149084902771
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