Description of Invention:
The current invention embodies the identification of a nine amino acid peptide derived from the melanoma antigen known as tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP2). The TRP2 peptide is capable of stimulating cytotoxic T lymphocytes which specifically react with, and lyse, melanoma cells in the context of HLA-A0201. HLA-A0201 is the most common subtype of HLA-A2, which is the most commonly expressed family of Class I MHC molecules in melanoma patients in the U.S. It therefore is believed that the TRP2 peptide, alone or in combination with HLA-A2-specific peptides from other melanoma antigens, could be used as an immunotherapeutic vaccine for the prevention and treatment of melanoma in a large percentage of patients having that form of cancer. In addition, the peptide could prove useful as a diagnostic reagent for evaluating the efficacy of immunization in these patients.
Inventors:
M Parkhurst (NCI) SA Rosenberg (NCI) Y Kawakami (NCI)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-175-1998/0 Licensing Status: This technology is no longer available for licensing.
Portfolios: Cancer
Cancer -Therapeutics-Vaccines Cancer -Therapeutics
For Additional Information Please Contact: Michelle A. Booden Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301)451-7337
Email: boodenm@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
