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July 22, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Established Human Papillomavirus Type 16-Expressing Tumors Are Effectively Eradicated Following Vaccination With Long Peptides" Journal of Immunology Online (www.jimmunol.org) (07/02) Vol. 169, No. 1, P. 350; Zwaveling, Sander; Mota, Sandra C. Ferreira; Nouta, Jan

Vaccines designed with peptides have not yet been effective in prompting T-cell responses to cancers.  A new study tested the human papillomavirus (HPV) 16-derived 35 amino-acid long peptide E7[43-77] as a prime-boost vaccination against cervical cancer in a preclinical model.  The vaccine, which contained both a CTL epitope and a Th epitope, caused a greater E7-specific T-cell response than previous vaccinations with the CTL epitope alone. The vaccination induced the production of E7-specific CD4+ Th cells, with the T-cell response apparently linked to that Th cell production and the cells' interaction with professional APC.  The findings indicate that long peptides are a promising therapeutic compound for future exploration, especially as they are easy to produce according to good manufacturing practices and are safe for humans.

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