# US 7,612,044 B2 · Melanoma antigens and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,044 B2 - Document ID: US7612044B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/751,233 - Filed: 2007-05-21 - Published: 2007-11-01 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 1994-04-22 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services - Inventors: Yutaka Kawakami; Steven A. Rosenberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612044B2 ## CPC - C07K 14/47: from mammals - A61K 39/00119: {Melanoma antigens} - A61K 39/001191: {Melan-A/MART} - A61K 39/001192: {Glycoprotein 100 [Gp100]} - A61K 40/11: T-cells, e.g. tumour infiltrating lymphocytes [TIL] or regulatory T [Treg] cells; Lymphokine-activated killer [LAK] cells - A61K 40/4271: {Melanoma antigens} - A61K 40/4272: {Melan-A/MART} - A61K 40/4273: {Glycoprotein 100 [Gp100]} - A61P 35/00: Antineoplastic agents - A61P 37/04: Immunostimulants - C07K 14/4748: {Tumour specific antigens; Tumour rejection antigen precursors [TRAP], e.g. MAGE} - G01N 33/5751: of the skin, e.g. melanoma - A61K 38/00: Medicinal preparations containing peptides (peptides containing beta-lactam rings A61K31/00; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, A61K31/00; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type A61K31/48; containing macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units A61K31/74; medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00; medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients, e.g. peptides as drug carriers, A61K47/00) - A61K 39/00: Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies (materials for immunoassay G01N33/53) - A61K 2039/5256: {expressing foreign proteins} - A61K 2039/53: {DNA (RNA) vaccination} - A61K 2239/31: characterized by the route of administration - A61K 2239/38: characterised by the dose, timing or administration schedule - C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pharmaceutical composition comprising an immunogenic peptide consisting of 5 to 20 contiguous amino acids of a MART-1 sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) and a suitable excipient, diluent, or carrier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the immunogenic peptide is 9 to 10 amino acids in length. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pharmaceutical compositon of claim 2, wherein the immunogenic peptide consists of the amino acid sequence of AAGIGILTV (SEQ ID NO: 4), AAGIGILTVI (SEQ ID NO: 18), or EAAGIGILTV (SEQ ID NO: 17). ### Claim 4 A pharmaceutical composition comprising an analog of an immunogenic peptide consisting of 5 to 20 contiguous amino acids of a MART-1 sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2), with at least one amino acid modification, wherein the analog binds to an MHC molecule in a manner that is enhanced as compared to the immunogenic peptide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 4, wherein the immunogenic peptide is 9 to 10 amino acids in length. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 4, wherein said amino acid modification is an amino acid substitution. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 6, wherein said amino acid substitution is located at a position selected from the group consisting of: (i) the first position, (ii) the second position, (iii) the third position, (iv) the ninth position, (v) tenth position, and (vi) combinations of at least two of (i)-(v) in the sequence of the peptide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 7, wherein said amino acid substitutions are located at the second and ninth positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 4, comprising an immunogenic peptide having the formula X1X2X3IGILTX4 wherein X1 is any amino acid; X2 is any hydrophobic aliphatic amino acid; X3 is any amino acid; and X4 is any hydrophobic aliphatic amino acid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9, wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of methionine, leucine, alanine, glycine, threonine, isoleucine, tyrosine, valine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, serine, lysine, and aspartic acid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9, wherein X2 is selected from the group consisting of methionine, leucine, alanine, glycine, isoleucine, valine and threonine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9, wherein X3 is selected from the group consisting of methionine, leucine, alanine, glycine, threonine, isoleucine, tyrosine, valine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, lysine, serine, and aspartic acid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9, wherein X4 is selected from the group consisting of methionine, leucine, alanine, glycine, isoleucine, valine or threonine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9, wherein said immunogenic peptide consists of the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 50 to 67. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pharmaceutical composition of claim 14, wherein the immunogenic peptide consists of the amino acid sequence of ALGIGILTV (SEQ ID NO: 50), WAGIGILTV (SEQ ID NO: 53), FAGIGTLTV (SEQ ID NO: 54), and AAYIGILTV (SEQ ID NO: 58). ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method of treating melanoma in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal the pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 in an amount effective to treat the melanoma. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method of treating melanoma in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal the pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 in an amount effective to treat the melanoma. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An immunogenic composition for immunizing a mammal comprising an immunogenically-effective amount of the immunogenic peptide of claim 1 in a pharmacologically acceptable carrier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An immunogenic composition for immunizing a mammal comprising an immunogenically-effective amount of the immunogenic peptide of claim 1 in a pharmacologically acceptable carrier.