This strategy was shown to significantly enhance the number of CD11c+ DCs and to elevate the percentage of CD11c+CD86+ and CD11c+MHCI+ DCs in the inguinal LNs of both healthy and tumor-bearing mice three days following vaccination, indicating enhanced maturation and an increased capacity for cross-presentation of extracellular antigens to CD8+ T cells. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is neoplasm.