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The identification of potentially useful immune-based treatments for prostate cancer has been severely constrained by the scarcity of relevant animal research models for this disease. Moreover, some of the most critical mechanisms involved in complete and proper antitumoral T cell activation have only recently been identified for experimental manipulation, namely, components involved in the costimulatory pathway for T cell activation. Thus, we have established a novel syngeneic murine prostate cancer model that permits us to examine two distinct manipulations intended to elicit an antiprostate cancer response through enhanced T cell costimulation: (i) provision of direct costimulation by prostate cancer cells transduced to express the B7.1 ligand and (ii)in vivoantibody-mediated blockade of the T cell CTLA-4, which prevents T cell down-regulation. In the present study we found that a tumorigenic prostate cancer cell line, TRAMPC1 (pTC1), derived from transgenic mice, is rejected by syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, but not athymic mice, after this cell line is transduced to express the costimulatory ligand B7.1. Also, we demonstrated thatin vivoantibody-mediated blockade of CTLA-4 enhances antiprostate cancer immune responses. The response raised by anti-CTLA-4 administration ranges from marked reductions in wild-type pTC1 growth to complete rejection of these cells. Collectively, these experiments suggest that appropriate manipulation of T cell costimulatory and inhibitory signals may provide a fundamental and highly adaptable basis for prostate cancer immunotherapy. Additionally, the syngeneic murine model that we introduce provides a comprehensive system for further testing of immune-based treatments for prostate cancer.

Commotio cordis (CC) is defined as sudden cardiac death from a chest impact without any observable physical damage. This phenomenon is most prevalent in the youth population, especially during sporting events. Over 85% of those affected do not survive [1].Copyright © 2008 by ASME