Abstract B02: The role of the immune system in sustained tumor regression following oncogene inactivation

The MYC oncogene has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many types of human cancer. The Felsher laboratory uses a conditional Tet-off MYC mouse model to study the formation of tumors in multiple tissue types, such as lymphoma, and has demonstrated that MYC-induced tumorigenesis is reversible. We have found that many cancers are “oncogene addicted” to MYC. Our laboratory has shown that an adaptive T cell-mediated immune response is essential for sustained tumor regression upon MYC inactivation (Rakhra et al, Cancer Cell, 2010). Now, we have found evidence suggesting that upon MYC inactivation in tumors, B cells are activated and are critical to tumor regression. MYC inactivation in a tumor was associated with the induction of an antibody-mediated response against tumor cells. This humoral response could mediate the killing of tumor cells in an Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay. Our work suggests that MYC inactivation results in a B cell-mediated immune response and that ADCC may contribute to tumor regression. Citation Format: Stephanie C. Casey, Rachel K. Do, Dean W. Felsher. The role of the immune system in sustained tumor regression following oncogene inactivation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Myc: From Biology to Therapy; Jan 7-10, 2015; La Jolla, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2015;13(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B02.