Powerful MHC-class II peptides derived from survivin
The present invention relates to peptides, nucleic acids, and cells for use in the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to survivin-derived tumor-associated cytotoxic T cell (CTL) peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. The present invention specifically relates to three novel peptide sequences and variants thereof derived from HLA class I and class II molecules of human tumor cells that can be used in vaccine compositions for eliciting anti-tumor immune responses.
1. A method of eliciting an immune response in a patient who has prostate cancer that presents a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 on the cell surface, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof the activated T cells produced by contacting in vitro a T cell with a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 in a complex with a human class II MHC molecule for a period of time sufficient to activate said T cell, wherein the activated T cells are administered in the form of a composition.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an adjuvant.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of anti-CD40 antibody, imiquimod, resiquimod, GM-CSF, cyclophosphamide, sunitinib, bevacizumab, interferon-alpha, interferon-beta, CpG oligonucleotides and derivatives, poly-(I:C) and derivatives, RNA, sildenafil, particulate formulations with poly(lactide coglycolide) (PLG), virosomes, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL-21, and IL-23.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjuvant is IL-1.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjuvant is IL-4.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjuvant is IL-12.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjuvant is IL-13.
8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjuvant is IL-2.
9. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjuvant is IL-7.
10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjuvant is IL-15.
11. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjuvant is IL-21.
12. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjuvant is IL-23.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 2.