Vol. 9, Special Issue 1, Part J (2025)

Matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP-11), a member of the matrix metalloproteinase family, is highly expressed in various tumor cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment. It has been identified as a potential target for breast cancer immunotherapy. This study investigates the efficacy of a chimeric DNA vaccine, pVAX1.MMP-11, targeting MMP-11 in the LA7 rat mammary cancer model. We assessed the immune response induced by the vaccine through lymphocyte transformation tests (LTT), which measure T cell proliferation upon exposure to the MMP-11 antigen. The results revealed a significant increase in T cell proliferation, suggesting that the chimeric DNA vaccine may activate an immune response targeting MMP-11 expressing mammary tumors. These findings provide insight into the potential of therapeutic DNA vaccines in cancer immunotherapy.