This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Knutson, K. L. Articles by Disis, M. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Knutson, K. L. Articles by Disis, M. L.

Immunization of Cancer Patients with a HER-2/neu, HLA-A2 Peptide, p369–377, Results in Short-lived Peptide-specific Immunity¹

Division of Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle Washington, 98195-6527 [K. L. K., K. S., M. A. C., M. L. D.], and Corina Corporation, Seattle, Washington 98104 [M. A. C.]

Ideally, vaccines should be designed to elicit long-lived immunity. The goal of this study was to determine whether HER-2/neu peptide-specific CD8⁺ T-cell immunity could be elicited using an immunodominant HER-2/neu-derived HLA-A2 peptide alone in the absence of exogenous help. Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was used as adjuvant. Six HLA-A2 patients with HER-2/neu-overexpressing cancers received 6 monthly vaccinations with a vaccine preparation consisting of 500 µg of HER-2/neu peptide, p369–377, admixed with 100 µg of GM-CSF. The patients had either stage III or IV breast or ovarian cancer. Immune responses to the p369–377 were examined using an IFN- enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay. Before vaccination, the median precursor frequency (range), defined as precursors per 10⁶ peripheral blood mononuclear cell, to p369–377 was 0 (no range). After vaccination, the median precursor frequency to p369–377 in four evaluable patients was 0 (0–116). Overall, HER-2/neu peptide-specific precursors developed to p369–377 in two of four evaluable subjects. The responses were short-lived and not detectable at 5 months after the final vaccination. Immunocompetence was evident, because patients had detectable enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot responses to tetanus toxoid and influenza. These results demonstrate that HER-2/neu MHC class I epitopes can induce HER-2/neu peptide-specific IFN--producing CD8⁺ T cells. However, the magnitude of the responses were low, as well as short-lived, suggesting that CD4⁺ T-cell help is required for lasting immunity to this epitope.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L A Emens, R T Reilly, and E M Jaffee Breast cancer vaccines: maximizing cancer treatment by tapping into host immunity Endocr. Relat. Cancer, March 1, 2005; 12(1): 1 - 17. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]