Development of novel cancer vaccine using antigens chemically coupled to the surface of liposome

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25430156
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tumor therapeutics
• Research Institution: Saitama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: HORIUCHI Yutaka 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (30608906)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): AKATSUKA Toshitaka 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (30159321) ; KOBAYASHI Nobuharu 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (10150616)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): UCHIDA Tetsuya 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 特任教授 (50176690)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: がんワクチン / 免疫療法 / リポソーム / 細胞傷害性T細胞 / リンパ球 / TERT / へテロクリティック

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we used antigens chemically coupled to the surface of liposomes to target telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). Using the heteroclitical peptide-modifying approach with antigen-coupled liposomes, we identified a novel cryptic epitope with low affinity for HLA molecules derived from TERT. It induced only weak CD8 T-cell immune responses in mice when emulsified in IFA. By contrast, when coupled to the surface of the liposomes, it induced powerful CD8 T-cell immune responses which cross-reacted against the original cryptic epitope. The induced CD8 T-cells also recognized endogenously TERT expressing tumor cells and inhibited their growth in mice. These data suggest that heteroclitical antigen derived from low affinity epitope of tumor antigens coupled to the surface of liposome may have a role as an effective cancer vaccine candidate.

Free Research Field

腫瘍免疫学