αCD40/TLR7* therapeutic intervention slows progression of metastatic melanoma. C57BL/6 mice were challenged with 105 metastatic B16.F10 melanoma cells intravenously. Four days later, mice were vaccinated with 100 μg of the tumor-associated antigen ΔV, 100 μg αCD40 FGK45, and 100 μg S-27609 in combinations as indicated. After 24 days, mice were killed, lungs were removed, and metastatic surface tumor nodules were enumerated with the aid of a dissecting microscope. (A) Photograph of macroscopically visible tumor nodules on lungs of mice, 24 days after tumor challenge. Numbers below the lungs reflect the mean survival time and long-term survival rate of mice monitored for therapeutic efficacy. Data are pooled from 3 to 4 independent experiments with greater than 8 mice per group in each experiment. (B) Enumeration of lung metastases. Data are pooled from 2 independent experiments and are presented as means plus or minus SEM (n = 16 mice in each group). Data are representative of more than 4 separate experiments with at least 6 mice in each group. (C) Enumeration of lung metastases after effector cell depletion. Mice were treated as above except for the depletion of effector cell populations prior to tumor challenge as described in “Methods.” The data are expressed as means plus or minus SEM (n = 8 mice in each group) and are representative of 3 independent experiments.
