IgG response to MHC class I epitope peptides is a quantitative predictive biomarker in the early course of treatment of colorectal cancer using therapeutic peptides

Oncol Rep. 2018 May;39(5):2385-2392. doi: 10.3892/or.2018.6288. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

Abstract

Cancer vaccines have been developed as a new therapeutic approach, however, their clinical benefit remains limited. We previously performed a phase II study for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) using five human leukocyte antigen (HLA-A*24:02)-restricted peptides derived from kinase of the outer chloroplast membrane 1, translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 34 (TOMM34), ring finger protein 43 (RNF43), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and VEGFR2. In the present study the relationship between overall survival (OS) and several biomarkers, including cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses to these five peptides, was investigated. In 89 advanced CRC patients treated with a combination therapy consisting of these five peptides and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, plasma was collected before and after 3 months of vaccine administration. IgGs reactive to each of the five peptides were assessed using the multiplex bead suspension Luminex system. Antigen-specific T-cell responses were estimated by enzyme-linked immunoSpot assay. Plasma levels of TOMM34 IgG (P<0.001), RNF43 IgG (P<0.001) and VEGFR2 IgG (P<0.001) were significantly increased after vaccination and stronger VEGFR2 IgG responses correlated significantly with OS in HLA-matched patients (P=0.034). CTL responses to VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were also significantly increased in the HLA-matched group (P=0.049 and P<0.001, respectively). However, increased CTL response did not correlate with OS. Multivariate analysis indicated that IgG responses to VEGFR2 were the most significant predictor for OS in the HLA-A*24:02-matched group (P=0.04). Our findings indicated that VEGFR2 IgG responses may be an important immunological biomarker in the early course of treatment for CRC patients treated with therapeutic epitope peptides.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Female
  • HLA-A24 Antigen / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / chemistry
  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / immunology
  • Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins / chemistry
  • Oncogene Proteins / immunology
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / chemistry
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / immunology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / chemistry
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / immunology

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Epitopes
  • HLA-A*24:02 antigen
  • HLA-A24 Antigen
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins
  • TOMM34 protein, human
  • RNF43 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • KDR protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2