Methods for treating cancers and pathogen infections using antigen-presenting cells loaded with RNA
AssigneeDuke University
InventorsSmita K. Nair, David J. Boczkowski, Eli Gilboa
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Abstract
Disclosed are cells and methods for treating or preventing tumor formation or infections with pathogens in a patient. The cells of the invention are antigen-presenting cells (e.g., dendritic cells or macrophage) that have been loaded with RNA derived from tumors or pathogens. By administering the RNA-loaded antigen-presenting cells to a patient, tumor formation or pathogen infections can be treated or prevented. Alternatively, the RNA-loaded cells can be used as stimulator cells in the ex vivo expansion of CTL. Such CTL can then be used in a variation of conventional adoptive immunotherapy techniques.
Claims17
A method for producing an RNA-loaded antigen presenting cell (APC) that presents on its surface a tumor antigenic epitope encoded by the RNA, wherein the epitope induces T cell proliferation, said method comprising:
- introducing into an antigen-presenting cell in vitro RNA obtained from a tumor comprising tumor-specific RNA that encodes an antigen that induces T cell proliferation and tumor immunity thereby producing an RNA-loaded APC that presents on its surface a tumor antigenic epitope encoded by the RNA, wherein the epitope induces T cell proliferation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.