Appropriately stimulated antigen-specific CD8 T cells can cause tumor rejection in murine models. This has also been described in humans, where adoptively transferred TIL have induced tumor regressions in patients with malignant melanoma (MM). Among treated patients there was an association between tumor regression and the presence of gp100-specific T cells in adoptively transferred TIL. Furthermore, tumor regressions were observed in 42% of patients with metastatic MM receiving a gp100 peptide vaccine and IL-2. A majority of patients had an increase in peptide-specific T cells. This suggests that repeated immunizations of cancer patients with synthetic peptides might elicit potent tumor-antigen-specific T cells, a strategy that could translate into clinical benefit for high-risk patients with MM. However, there are competing ideas as to the best immunogen (peptide, protein, and whole tumor cell) as well as the best adjuvant (cytokines or dendritic ability to induce antigen-specific T cells. Thus, it is critical to have a reliable, easily performed assay to measure antigen-specific T cells. Direct visualization of specific peptide-binding T cells, using fluorescent TCR antigen ligands called tetramers, can now be performed. A flow cytometry-based assay, tetramers can be used on small numbers of PBL to monitor a large multi-center trial, which could test the hypothesis that the generation of antigen-specific CD8 T cells correlates with an improvement in survival. We propose a pilot study of 20 patients with intermediate-thickness MM in which we compare tetramers with ELISPOT, LDA and intracellular cytokine production to measure peptide-specific T cells.. Patients will receive a modified gp100 peptide that binds to HLA-A2 and has been shown to increase the frequency of peptide-specific T cells in patients with metastatic MM. An HPV16 viral peptide will be used as a control to compare its immunogenicity to that of the self-gp100 peptide. The determination of a reliable and convenient method to quantify peptide-specific T-cell expansion should facilitate the development of effective vaccine strategies for a variety of different cancers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21CA082614-01
Application #
2892798
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-CONC (01))
Program Officer
Xie, Heng
Project Start
1999-09-01
Project End
2001-08-31
Budget Start
1999-09-01
Budget End
2000-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Providence Portland Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97213