Epitopes
AssigneeScancell Limited
InventorsWei Xue, Katherine Wendy Cook, Linda Gillian Durrant, Victoria Anne Brentville
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to epitopes containing homocitrulline (Heit) that can be used as targets for cancer immunotherapy. The homocitrullinated T cell epitope has (i) a predicted binding score to MIC class II or class I of <30 using the online IEDB prediction program (http://www.iedb.org/) and (ii) at least 5 consecutive amino acids that form a spiral conformational structure. These modified peptides can be used as vaccines or as targets for T cell receptor (TCR) and adoptive T cell transfer therapies.
Claims8
A method of treating cancer in a subject identified as having a tumor environment comprising myeloperoxidase (MPO)-expressing cells, wherein the MPO-expressing cells produce isocyanic acid that can diffuse into tumor cells and result in the carbamylation of epitopes in tumor cells in the tumor environment, wherein the resulting carbamylated epitopes each comprise at least one lysine amino acid residue that has been converted to homocitrulline and are presented on the surface of the tumor cells via MHC class I or II complexes, the method comprising administering to the subject a composition that comprises peptides comprising at least one of the carbamylated epitopes in an amount effective to induce production and/or secretion of IFN-gamma, granzyme B, and/or CD134 in T cells that bind the MHC class I or II complexes presented on the surface of the tumor cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.