Monoclonal anti-MAGE-3 CTL responses in melanoma patients displaying tumor regression after vaccination with a recombinant canarypox virus

J Immunol. 2003 Nov 1;171(9):4898-904. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.171.9.4898.

Abstract

We have analyzed the T cell responses of HLA-A1 metastatic melanoma patients with detectable disease, following vaccination with a recombinant ALVAC virus, which bears short MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 sequences coding for antigenic peptides presented by HLA-A1. To evaluate the anti-MAGE CTL responses, we resorted to antigenic stimulation of blood lymphocytes under limiting dilution conditions, followed by tetramer analysis and cloning of the tetramer-positive cells. The clones were tested for their specific lytic ability and their TCR sequences were obtained. Four patients who showed tumor regression were analyzed, and an anti-MAGE-3.A1 CTL response was observed in three of these patients. Postvaccination frequencies of anti-MAGE-3.A1 CTL were 3 x 10(-6), 3 x 10(-3), and 3 x 10(-7) of the blood CD8 T cells, respectively. These three responses were monoclonal. No anti-MAGE-1.A1 CTL response was observed. These results indicate that, like peptide immunization, ALVAC immunization produces monoclonal responses. They also suggest that low-level antivaccine CTL responses can initiate a tumor regression process. Taken together, our analysis of anti-MAGE-3.A1 T cell responses following peptide or ALVAC vaccination shows a degree of correlation between CTL response and tumor regression, but firm conclusions will require larger numbers.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Neoplasm / administration & dosage
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Canarypox virus / genetics
  • Canarypox virus / immunology*
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Cancer Vaccines / genetics
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology*
  • Clone Cells
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intradermal
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / immunology
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / prevention & control
  • Melanoma / immunology*
  • Melanoma / prevention & control*
  • Melanoma / secondary
  • Neoplasm Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / immunology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / blood
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / metabolism
  • Vaccines, Subunit / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Subunit / genetics
  • Vaccines, Subunit / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / genetics
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Viral Vaccines / genetics
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology

Substances

  • ALVAC vaccine
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • MAGEA3 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Vaccines, Subunit
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Viral Vaccines