Melanoma antigens and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic methods
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
InventorsYutaka Kawakami, Steven A. Rosenberg
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Abstract
The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding a melanoma antigen recognized by T lymphocytes, designated MART-1. This invention further relates to bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess or prognoses a mammal afflicted with melanoma or metastata melanoma. This invention also provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen and a second melanoma antigen designated gp100. This invention further provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen or gp100 antigen which have been modified to enhance their immunogenicity. The proteins and peptides provided can serve as an immunogen or vaccine to prevent or treat melanoma.
Claims14
An immunogenic peptide having 5-20 contiguous amino acids of the MART-1 sequence (SEQ ID NO:2).
An immunogenic peptide having 5-20 contiguous amino acids of the MART-1 sequence (SEQ ID NO:2), wherein said peptide sequence contains at least one amino acid modification of said MART-1 sequence to enhance binding of peptide to an MHC molecule.
An immunogenic peptide having the formula X1X2X3IGILTX4 wherein:
- X1 may be any amino acid;
- X2 may be any hydrophobic aliphatic amino acid;
- X3 may be any amino acid;
- and
- X4 may be any hydrophobic aliphatic amino acid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.