Pure MHC Plays Role in “Personalized” Cancer Vaccine Trial
A recent cancer study performed by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has garnered significant interest from the science and medical community. This research, led by Dr. Beatriz Carreno, tested the ability of a personalized cancer vaccine to assist the immune system’s effectiveness in attacking a patient’s specific tumor.
As part of the study, researchers from the Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Pure MHC applied their expertise and technology to test tumor targets using its HLA peptide-binding assay, to determine if the tumor targets would bind to an HLA molecule, and later to validate that tumor targets in the vaccine were able to elicit anti-tumor immunity.
This collective cancer vaccine research could one day allow doctors to tap into previously-dormant defenses that the body could use to battle the disease.
Pure MHC is a subsidiary of Pure Protein, LLC, and is managed by innovation solutions company Emergent Technologies.
Dr. William H. Hildebrand
Dr. Saghar Kaabinejadian
Publication Summary:
A dendritic cell vaccine increases the breadth and diversity of melanoma neoantigen-specific T cells
Beatriz M. Carreno, Vincent Magrini, Michelle Becker-Hapak, Saghar Kaabinejadian, Jasreet Hundal, Allegra A. Petti, Amy Ly, Wen-Rong Lie, William H. Hildebrand, Elaine R. Mardis, Gerald P. Linette
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2015/04/01/science.aaa3828.long
Science aaa3828 DOI:10.1126/science.aaa3828
Abstract
T cell immunity directed against tumor-encoded amino acid substitutions (AAS) occurs in some melanoma patients. This implicates missense mutations (MM) as a source of patient-specific neoantigens. However, a systematic evaluation of these putative neoantigens as validated targets of anti-tumor immunity is lacking. Moreover, whether vaccination can augment such responses is unknown. Here we show that a dendritic cell vaccine increased naturally occurring and revealed new HLA class I-restricted neoantigens in patients with advanced melanoma. The presentation of neoantigens by HLA-A*02:01 in human melanoma was confirmed by mass spectrometry. Vaccination promoted a diverse neoantigen-specific T cell receptor repertoire in terms of both TCRVβ usage and clonal composition. Our results demonstrate that vaccination directed at tumor AAS broadens the antigenic breadth and clonal diversity of anti-tumor immunity.
Copyright (C) 2015, American Association for the Advancement of Science.
PMID: 25837513 [PubMed – as supplied]
Requests for the full paper may be submitted via the link below.
Additional Media Coverage:
Stories on the initial trial and results of this new personalized medicine approach are appearing in a spectrum of scientific and general publications. Below is a representative sample:
The Washington Post. “Personalized cancer vaccines have already helped treat three patients”
A general overview of the technology, in lay terms.
The Scientist. “Personalized Cancer Vaccines.”
An overview more tailored to medical professionals.
Washington University Newsroom: “Personalized melanoma vaccines marshal powerful immune response”
A detailed story from the university where the research was conducted.
Medical News Today: “Personalized vaccine shows promise against melanoma recurrence”
Overview from physicians’ perspective.
Iflscience.com: “Personalized Cancer Vaccines Pass Early Test
Report based on Science Magazine article.
BBC News: “Personal cancer vaccine research ‘exciting’ say experts”
Overview by BBC medical editor.
Overview report.
