ANCHOR MODIFIED PEPTIDES FOR IMMUNIZATION IN MELANOMA

最近的实验证据表明，某些恶性肿瘤的治疗性免疫是一个现实的方法。基于用抗原脉冲的树突状细胞（DC）免疫荷瘤宿主的临床前模型表明，可以诱导已建立的肿瘤消退。 肿瘤消退依赖于完整的免疫系统，并由抗原特异性CD 8 + T淋巴细胞介导。 该提议建立在这样的前提上，即需要递送免疫原性肽疫苗并随后进行强化免疫学监测，以最佳地引发能够根除残留肿瘤的有效T细胞应答。 令人信服的证据表明，免疫原性与肽结合亲和力的主要组织相容性复合体编码的分子。 本研究的主要目的是通过设计在影响HLA I类分子结合亲和力的关键（锚）残基中修饰的肽抗原，来创建更好、更具免疫原性的黑素瘤疫苗。 黑素瘤抗原gp 100和Mart-1锚修饰的肽将与DC一起用于临床免疫试验中，所述临床免疫试验设计为优化抗原特异性CD 8+细胞毒性T淋巴细胞的体内产生。 免疫学、病理学以及放射学终点将用于判断每种肽的功效。 较新的方法，如T细胞受体β链库分析和四色流式细胞术将被纳入黑色素瘤疫苗试验，以允许更精确的监测。 将使用HLA转基因小鼠验证所选肽的免疫原性。 本申请的具体目的是：1）创建受HLA-A2限制的gp 100黑色素瘤抗原的锚修饰肽; 2）鉴定gp 100和Mart-1的HLA-B7限制性表位; 3）开发更好的策略来表征DC疫苗接种后人类T细胞的激活和募集。 本申请中解决的问题旨在更详细地了解细胞免疫、肿瘤消退和临床反应之间的关系。

Recent experimental evidence suggests that therapeutic immunization for certain malignancies is a realistic approach. Pre-clinical models based upon immunization of tumor-bearing hosts with antigen-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) demonstrate that regression of established tumors can be induced. Tumor regression is dependent upon an intact immune system and is mediated by antigen specific CD8+ T lymphocytes. This proposal is built upon the premise that delivery of an immunogenic peptide vaccine with subsequent intensive immunologic monitoring is required to optimally elicit an effective T cell response capable of eradicating residual tumor. Compelling evidence suggests that immunogenicity correlates with peptide binding affinity for molecules encoded by the major histocompatibility complex. The principal goal of this study is to create better, more immunogenic vaccines for melanoma by designing peptide antigens modified in crucial (anchor) residues that affect binding affinity for HLA class I molecules. Melanoma antigen gp100 and Mart-1 anchor modified peptides will be used with DC in clinical immunization trials designed to optimize the in vivo generation of antigen specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Immunologic, pathologic, as well as radiologic endpoints will be used to judge the efficacy of each peptide. Newer methodologies such as T cell receptor beta chain repertoire analysis and four color flow cytometry will be incorporated into vaccine trials for melanoma to allow more precise monitoring. Immunogenicity of selected peptides will be validated using HLA transgenic mice. The specific aims of this application are: 1) to create anchor modified peptides of the gp100 melanoma antigen restricted by HLA-A2; 2) to identify HLA-B7 restricted epitopes of gp100 and Mart-1; 3) to develop better strategies to characterize human T cell activation and recruitment after DC vaccination. The issues addressed in this application are designed to provide a more detailed understanding of the relationship between cellular immunity, tumor regression, and clinical response.