Targeting EGF receptor variant III: tumor-specific peptide vaccination for malignant gliomas

Expert Rev Vaccines. 2012 Feb;11(2):133-44. doi: 10.1586/erv.11.177.

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and deadly of the human brain cancers. The EGF receptor is often amplified in GBM and provides a potential therapeutic target. However, targeting the normal receptor is complicated by its nearly ubiquitous and high level of expression in certain tissues. A naturally occurring deletion mutant of the EGF receptor, EGFRvIII, is a constitutively active variant originally identified in a high percentage of brain cancer cases, and more importantly is rarely found in normal tissue. A peptide vaccine, rindopepimut (CDX-110, Celldex Therapeutics), is directed against the novel exon 1-8 junction produced by the EGFRvIII deletion, and it has shown high efficacy in preclinical models. Recent Phase II clinical trials in patients with newly diagnosed GBM have shown EGFRvIII-specific immune responses and significantly increased time to progression and overall survival in those receiving vaccine therapy, as compared with published results for standard of care. Rindopepimut therefore represents a very promising therapy for patients with GBM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / immunology
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Cancer Vaccines / adverse effects
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • ErbB Receptors / immunology*
  • Glioblastoma / immunology
  • Glioblastoma / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines, Subunit / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Subunit / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, Subunit / immunology
  • Vaccines, Subunit / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Subunit
  • epidermal growth factor receptor VIII
  • ErbB Receptors
  • rindopepimut