Fig. 8: SNVac-US boosted antigen-specific T-cell response to inhibit melanoma growth and metastasis.

a Schematic illustration of the ultrasound-boosted vaccination induced by SNVac-US to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. b The absolute number of CD11c⁺ DC, CD11b⁺ macrophages and CD3⁺ T cells in the idLN after indicated treatments (n = 5 biologically independent mice). c Quantitative analysis of the frequency of matured DC (CD80⁺CD86⁺ in CD11c⁺ cells) in the idLN (n = 5 biologically independent mice). d Representative flow cytometry plots and quantitative analysis of the frequency of antigen-presented DC (SIINFEKL-H2Kb⁺ in CD11c⁺ cells) in the idLN (n = 5 biologically independent mice). e Schematic illustration of the ultrasound-boosted antigen cytosolic release and STING pathway activation induced by SNVac-US to promote antigen cross-presentation and T-cell activation. f, g Representative flow cytometry plots and quantitative analysis of the frequency of antigen-specific T cells (SIINFEKL-H2Kb tetramer⁺ in CD3⁺CD8⁺ cells) in the spleen (n = 5 biologically independent mice). h Representative flow cytometry plots and quantitative analysis of the OVA-specific killing effect in vivo (n = 4 biologically independent mice). The experiment was repeated twice independently with similar results. i Experimental timeline for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of SNVac-US in the B16-OVA tumor model. j, k Averaged B16-OVA tumor growth curves and corresponding survival curves of mice in indicated groups (n  = 6 biologically independent mice). l Individual B16-OVA tumor growth curves of mice in indicated groups (n = 6 biologically independent mice). m Representative TUNEL and Ki-67 staining images of the B16-OVA tumor sections collected from indicated groups (n = 3 biologically independent mice). The experiment was repeated twice independently with similar results. Scale bars = 100 μm. Unless specified otherwise, the data are presented as mean± SD. Statistical significance was calculated via one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s test (b−d, g−j) or log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test (k), and P-values were indicated. Source data are provided as a Source Data file. The elements in Fig. 8i were created by Adobe Illustrator, and the elements in Fig. 8a, e were created by Adobe Photoshop.