Anti-tumor immune responses and tumor regression induced with mimotopes of a tumor-associated T cell epitope

Eur J Immunol. 2003 Nov;33(11):3175-85. doi: 10.1002/eji.200324244.

Abstract

Mimotopes provide an alternative to natural T cell epitopes for cancer immune therapy, as they can recruit and stimulate T cell repertoires that deviate from the repertoires engaged with the tumor and exposed to disease-related immune suppression. Here, mimotopes of a shared tumor-associated T cell epitope in cutaneous lymphoma were tested for their capacities to induce clinical and immunological responses in cancer patients. The mimotope sequences had been determined by a combinatorial peptide library approach without knowledge of the corresponding natural tumor-associated antigen. Vaccination with these mimotopes together with helper T cell-inducing antigens led to complete tumor remission in the two patients tested. After each booster vaccination, enhanced frequencies of mimotope-specific CD8+ T cells were detected in the peripheral blood of the patients, and the CTL proved to be cytotoxic and tumoricidal when tested in vitro. These data provide a first indication of clinical efficacy of mimotopes in cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / immunology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / physiopathology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / therapy
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin / physiopathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / therapy
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte