Alpha lactalbumin immunization methods
Compositions and methods for immunization against human breast cancer are disclosed. A breast cancer vaccine comprises an immunogenic polypeptide comprising human α-lactalbumin.
1. A method of immunizing a non-lactating female human patient against a human α-lactalbumin, the method comprising the step of inducing an immune response against α-lactalbumin in said patient by administering to the patient an immunogenic composition, said composition comprising an adjuvant; and a purified recombinant polypeptide consisting of a human α-lactalbumin sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein T cells are activated after administration of the polypeptide to the patient.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the T cells are CD4 + .
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the T cells are CD8 + .
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a proinflammatory immune response is induced by subsequent encounter of immune cells with α-lactalbumin.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the proinflammatory immune response comprises production of IFNγ by T cells.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the proinflammatory immune response is breast tissue specific.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said patient has a breast tumor that overexpresses α-lactalbumin.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjuvant is GPI-0100.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant polypeptide is produced in Escherichia coli.