Chimeric VEGF Peptides

Abstract

Compositions for and methods of treating patients with malignancies associated with overexpression of VEGF, particularly ovarian cancer are provided herein. The compositions include but are not limited to certain VEGF epitopes, multivalent peptides comprising the epitopes, and chimeric peptides comprising one or more of the epitopes and a T cell epitope.

1 . A peptide comprising:
 a) at least one VEGF epitope selected from the group consisting of amino acids 4 through 21 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 24 through 38 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 76 through 96 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 126 through 143 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 127 through 144 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 162 through 175 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 5 through 15 of SEQ ID NO: 2, amino acids 24 through 34 of SEQ ID NO: 2, amino acids 50 through 75 of SEQ ID NO: 2, amino acids 50-67 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and amino acids 86 through 105 of SEQ ID NO: 2;   b) a helper T cell epitope; and   c) a linker joining the at least one VEGF epitope to the helper T cell epitope, wherein the linker comprises from about 2 to about 10 amino acids.   
     
     
         2 . The peptide according to  claim 1 , having from about 35 to about 70 amino acids. 
     
     
         3 . The peptide according to  claim 1 , wherein the helper T cell epitope is a promiscuous Th cell epitope. 
     
     
         4 . The peptide according to  claim 1 , wherein the helper T cell epitope comprises from about 14 to about 22 amino acids. 
     
     
         5 . The peptide according to  claim 1 , wherein the helper T cell epitope comprises a sequence chosen from TT (SEQ ID NO: 3), TT1 (SEQ ID NO: 4), P2 (SEQ ID NO: 5), P30 (SEQ ID NO: 6), MVF (SEQ ID NO: 7), HBV (SEQ ID NO: 8), and CSP (SEQ ID NO: 9). 
     
     
         6 . The peptide according to  claim 1 , wherein the linker comprises Gly-Pro-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO: 10). 
     
     
         7 . An immunogenic composition comprising at least one immunogen chosen from at least one of the peptides according to  claim 1 , and at least one pharmacologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         8 . A polynucleotide which encodes one of the peptides according to  claim 1 .