Vaccines

Abstract

Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of cancer, particularly lung, colon, colorectal and breast cancer, are disclosed. Illustrative compositions comprise one or more Cripto tumor polypeptides, immunogenic portions thereof, polynucleotides that encode such polypeptides, antigen presenting cell that expresses such polypeptides, and T cells that are specific for cells expressing such polypeptides. The disclosed compositions are useful, for example, in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases, particularly lung, colon, colorectal and breast cancer.

1 . A method for inhibiting development of a cancer in a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 (e) incubating CD4+ and/or CD8+T cells isolated from a patient with at least one component selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:11 or SEQ ID NO:12; and    (f) administering to the patient an effective amount of the T cells, and thereby inhibiting development of a cancer in the patient.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing the T cells to proliferate.  
     
     
         3 . A method for producing an immunogenic response to a tumor-associated antigen in an animal comprising administering a first component comprising a polynucleotide encoding a fragment of the tumor-associated antigen to the animal.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the tumor-associated antigen is Cripto.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the polynucleotide encodes SEQ ID NO:11 and does not encode SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the polynucleotide encodes SEQ ID NO:12 and does not encode SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the polynucleotide is recombinant DNA.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising admixing the polynucleotide and a second component comprising an immunostimulant, adjuvant and physiologically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         9 . A method of inducing an immunoresponse to Cripto in an animal comprising repeatedly administering a composition comprising a first component comprising SEQ ID NO:11 or SEQ ID NO:12.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising admixing the first component and a second component comprising a physiologically acceptable carrier, adjuvant and immunostimulant prior to administering the first component to the animal.