University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Johns Hopkins University

The University of Birmingham

Angela Lee Zarling

Victor H Engelhard

Donald F Hunt

Jeffrey Shabanowitz

Kara L Cummings

Rebecca C Obeng

Suzanne L Topalian

Mark Cobbold

Stacy Alyse Malaker

Florence A Depontieu

Jie Qian

Provided are isolated TCRs, TCR-like molecules, and portions thereof that bind to phosphopeptide-HLA-A2 complexes. The isolated TCRs, TCR-like molecules, or portions are optionally soluble TCRs, TCR-like molecules, or portions. Also provided are isolated nucleic acids encoding the disclosed TCRs, TCR-like molecules, or portions; host cells that contain the disclosed TCRs, TCR-like molecules, or portions; pharmaceutical compositions that include the disclosed TCRs, TCR-like molecules, portions, nucleic acids, and/or T cells; kits; and methods of using the same.

Isolated T cell receptors and methods of use therefor

A set of target peptides are presented by HLA A*0101, A*0201, A*0301, B*4402, B*2705, B*1402, and B*0702 on the surface of disease cells. They are envisioned to among other things (a) stimulate an immune response to the proliferative disease, e.g., cancer, (b) to function as immunotherapeutics in adoptive T cell therapy or as a vaccine, (c) facilitate antibody recognition of tumor boundaries in surgical pathology samples, (d) act as biomarkers for early detection and/or diagnosis of the disease, and (e) act as targets in the generation antibody-like molecules which recognize the target-peptide/MHC complex.

Target peptides for immunotherapy and diagnostics

We characterized a total of 175 HLA-DR-associated phosphopeptides using sequential affinity isolation, biochemical enrichment, mass spectrometric sequencing and comparative analysis. Many were derived from source proteins which may have roles in cancer development, growth and metastasis. Most were expressed exclusively by either melanomas or transformed B cells, suggesting the potential to define cell type-specific phosphatome 'fingerprints'. We generated HLA-DR&#x3b2;1*0101-restricted CD4T cells specific for a phospho-MART-1 peptide identified in two melanoma cell lines. These T cells showed specificity for phosphopeptide-pulsed antigen presenting cells as well as for intact melanoma cells. MHC II-restricted phosphopeptides recognizable by human CD4T cells are potential targets for cancer immunotherapy.

Phosphopeptides as melanoma vaccines

Growing community of inventors

Charlottesville, VA, United States of America

Angela Lee Zarling