The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Health

Institute of Gene and Brain Science

Yutaka Kawakami

Steven A Rosenberg

Masahiro Toda

Yoko Ueda

Yoshihiro Iwahori

Yukihiko Iizuka

The present invention provides an isolated or purified immunogenic peptide comprising 8-15 contiguous amino acids of gp100 (SEQ ID NO: 121) and related nucleic acids, expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, and methods of use. The invention further provides immunogenic peptides derived from gp100 which have been modified to enhance their immunogenicity and related nucleic acids, expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, and methods of use.

Melanoma antigens and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic methods

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.

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 MRT-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.

It is intended to provide highly safe antitumor agents which exhibit an antitumor effect on human remote tumors such as metastatic tumors too and by which an antitumor immune reaction enabling an immune therapy for cancer can be induced, tumor immunity inducers, T cell activators, dendritic cell activators, a method of treating cancer using the same, etc. Inactivated herpes simplex virus (inactivated HSV), herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D (HSVgD), etc. are employed as the active ingredients of antitumor agents, tumor immunity inducers, T cell activators or dendritic cell activators. As a specific example of the treatment for the above-described inactivation, citation may be made of a combination of UV-irradiation using ultraviolet light at 254 nm at 4 J/mfor 30 minutes with heating at 56&#xb0; C. for 30 minutes.

Antitumor agents with the use of HSV

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. The proteins and peptides provided can serve as an immunogen or vaccine to prevent or treat melanoma.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Yutaka Kawakami