Method of making therapeutic liposomal compositions

Abstract

A vaccine comprising a liposome preparation including at least one B-cell malignancy-associated antigen, IL-2, alone or in combination with at least one other cytokine, and at least one type of lipid molecule, is useful in a method of inducing humoral and cellular immune responses against malignant B-cells in a mammal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vaccine comprising a liposome preparation comprising 
 a) at least one B-cell malignancy-associated antigen;    b) IL-2, alone or in combination with at least one other cytokine; and    c) at least one type of lipid molecule.    
     
     
         2 . A vaccine according to  claim 1 , wherein said antigen comprises all or part of an antibody associated with or produced by a malignant B-cell.  
     
     
         3 . A vaccine according to  claim 1 , wherein said malignant B cell is associated with lymphoma.  
     
     
         4 . A vaccine according to  claim 1 , wherein said malignant B cell is associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.  
     
     
         5 . A vaccine according to  claim 1 , wherein said malignant B cell is associated with multiple myeloma.  
     
     
         6 . A vaccine according to  claim 2 , additionally comprising tumor-associated antigen that is not an antibody or antibody fragment.  
     
     
         7 . A vaccine according to  claim 6 , wherein said tumor-associated antigen is MUC-1, EBV antigen or an antigen associated with Burkitt's lymphoma.  
     
     
         8 . A vaccine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a B-cell antigen produced by or associated with non-malignant B-cells.  
     
     
         9 . A vaccine according to  claim 8 , wherein said B-cell antigen is a class 1 or class 2 HLA antigen.  
     
     
         10 . A vaccine according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one other cytokine is selected from the group consisting of M-CSF, GM-CSF, and IFN-gamma.  
     
     
         11 . A vaccine according to  claim 1 , wherein said lipid molecule is selected from the group consisting of phospholipid, glycolipid, cholesterol, and derivatives of said lipids.  
     
     
         12 . A vaccine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a carrier protein.  
     
     
         13 . A vaccine according to  claim 12 , wherein said carrier protein is albumin.  
     
     
         14 . A vaccine according to  claim 1 , further comprising an adjuvant.  
     
     
         15 . A method for inducing humoral and cellular immune responses against malignant B-cells in a mammal, comprising administering to said mammal a vaccine according to any one of claims  1 - 14 .