Cationic micelle delivery of a multi-epitope vaccine candidate derived from tumor-associated antigens, causing regression in established CT26 colorectal tumors in mice.

Among all the cancers, colorectal cancer (CRC) has the third mortality rank in both genders. Cancer vaccines have shown promising results in boosting patients' immune systems to fight cancer. Using the IEDB database, we predicted mouse MHC-I (H2-Ld) binding epitopes from four tumor-associated antigens (APC, KRAS, TP53, and PIK3CA) and designed a multi-epitope vaccine. We expressed the candidate vaccine and encapsulated it into the cationic micelle with polyethyleneimine conjugated to oleic acid as its building blocks. We studied tumor inhibition effect, cytokine production, and lymphocyte proliferation in the mouse CRC model after vaccination. Our finding illustrated significant tumor growth inhibition in mouse models treated with the candidate nanovaccine. Besides the significant release of IFN-γ and IL-4 by immunized mouse spleen T-lymphocytes, T-cell proliferation assay results confirmed effective immune response after the vaccination. These results demonstrate the potential therapeutic effects of nanovaccines and could be a possible approach to CRC immunotherapy.

Thyroid nodule in an eighteen-year-old man as the first presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy of childhood. Patients with ALL commonly present with easy bruising and infections due to medullary involvement. The extra medullary involvements of ALL manifests as hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and testicular enlargement. Among extramedullary manifestations of the ALL, thyroid involvement is rare. Herein, we reported a case of ALL that manifested as a thyroid nodule. CASE PRESENTATION: An 18-year-old young man with a thyroid nodule presented without any other symptom or sign. The excisional biopsy of the nodule was planned by the surgeon. After two months of lost to follow-up, the patient returned with a complaint of continuous bleeding after a tooth extraction. Peripheral blood smear (PBS) study and bone marrow aspiration proposed ALL and the flow cytometry confirmed the diagnosis. The R-Hyper-CVAD induction chemotherapeutic regimen (rituximab in combination with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone) was used for treatment. Interestingly, thyroid sonography and Tc(99m) scan showed resolution of the thyroid nodule after chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: In this patient, poor interdisciplinary communication and the rarity of this manifestation led to a delayed diagnosis. Therefore, we insist on more careful clinical examinations, reassessment of unusual FNA reports, and closer communication between clinicians and pathologists in such cases. This approach would lead to accurate and earlier diagnosis and would prevent unnecessary interventions.