NCIt definition : An immunotherapeutic vaccine composed of the immunoadjuvant alpha-galactosylceramide
(a-GC) and autologous antigen presenting cells (APCs), specifically B-lymphocytes
and monocytes transfected with an adenoviral vector that expresses the tumor-associated
antigens (TAAs) E6 and E7 derived from human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18
(HPV-16/18 E6/E7), with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic activities.
Upon administration of BVAC-C, the APCs stimulate the immune system to mount a TAA-specific
cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response, as well as natural killer (NK) cell, NK T-cell
(NKT), helper T-cell and antibody-mediated immune responses, against the tumor cells.
This directly or indirectly kills the TAA-expressing tumor cells. HPV-16/18 E6/E7
are overexpressed on certain tumor cell types and play key roles in tumor cell proliferation.
a-GC, an NKT cell ligand, is used to specifically stimulate NKT cells and to further
stimulate an anti-tumor immune response.;