Tumor Antigens for the Prevention and/or Treatment of Cancer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide and the use of the nucleic acid or polypeptide in preventing and/or treating cancer. In particular, the invention relates to improved vectors for the insertion and expression of foreign genes encoding tumor antigens for use in immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer.

1 . An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence as illustrated in SEQ ID NO.: 29 or SEQ ID NO.: 31; a nucleic acid sequence encoding the amino acid sequence illustrated in SEQ ID NO.: 30 or SEQ ID NO.: 32; or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The expression vector of  claim 1  wherein the vector is a plasmid or a viral vector. 
     
     
         3 . The expression vector of  claim 2  wherein the viral vector is selected from the group consisting of poxvirus, adenovirus, retrovirus, herpesvirus, and adeno-associated virus. 
     
     
         4 . The expression vector of  claim 3  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of vaccinia, NYVAC, avipox, canarypox, ALVAC, ALVAC(2), fowlpox, and TROVAC. 
     
     
         5 . The expression vector of  claim 4  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of NYVAC, ALVAC, and ALVAC(2). 
     
     
         6 . The expression vector of  claim 1  further comprising at least one additional tumor-associated anti gen. 
     
     
         7 . The expression vector of  claim 6  wherein the vector is a plasmid or a viral vector. 
     
     
         8 . The expression vector of  claim 7  wherein the viral vector is selected from the group consisting of poxvirus, adenovirus, retrovirus, herpesvirus, and adeno-associated virus. 
     
     
         9 . The expression vector of  claim 8  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of vaccinia, NYVAC, avipox, canarypox, ALVAC, ALVAC(2), fowlpox, and TROVAC. 
     
     
         10 . The expression vector of  claim 9  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of NYVAC, ALVAC, and ALVAC(2). 
     
     
         11 . The expression vector of  claim 1  further comprising at least one nucleic sequence encoding an angiogenesis-associated antigen. 
     
     
         12 . The expression vector of  claim 11  wherein the vector is a plasmid or a viral vector. 
     
     
         13 . The expression vector of  claim 12  wherein the viral vector is selected from the group consisting of poxvirus, adenovirus, retrovirus, herpesvirus, and adeno-associated virus. 
     
     
         14 . The expression vector of  claim 13  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of vaccinia, NYVAC, avipox, canarypox, ALVAC, ALVAC(2), fowlpox, and TROVAC. 
     
     
         15 . The expression vector of  claim 14  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of NYVAC, ALVAC, and ALVAC(2). 
     
     
         16 . The expression vector of  claim 6  further comprising at least one nucleic sequence encoding an angiogenesis-associated antigen. 
     
     
         17 . The expression vector of  claim 16  wherein the vector is a plasmid or a viral vector. 
     
     
         18 . The expression vector of  claim 17  wherein the viral vector is selected from the group consisting of poxvirus, adenovirus, retrovirus, herpesvirus, and adeno-associated virus. 
     
     
         19 . The expression vector of  claim 17  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of vaccinia, NYVAC, avipox, canarypox, ALVAC, ALVAC(2), fowlpox, and TROVAC. 
     
     
         20 . The poxvirus of  claim 18  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of NYVAC, ALVAC, and ALVAC(2). 
     
     
         21 . The expression vector of  claim 1 ,  6 ,  11  or  16  further comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a co-stimulatory component. 
     
     
         22 . The expression vector of  claim 22  wherein the vector is a plasmid or a viral vector. 
     
     
         23 . The expression vector of  claim 23  wherein the viral vector is selected from the group consisting of poxvirus, adenovirus, retrovirus, herpesvirus, and adeno-associated virus. 
     
     
         24 . The expression vector of  claim 24  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of vaccinia, NYVAC, avipox, canarypox, ALVAC, ALVAC(2), fowlpox, and TROVAC. 
     
     
         25 . The poxvirus of  claim 18  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of NYVAC, ALVAC, and ALVAC(2). 
     
     
         26 . A composition comprising an expression vector in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, said vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO.: 29 or SEQ ID NO.: 31; a nucleic acid sequence encoding the amino acid sequence illustrated in SEQ ID NO.: 30 or SEQ ID NO.: 32; or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The expression vector of  claim 26  wherein the vector is a plasmid or a viral vector. 
     
     
         28 . The expression vector of  claim 27  wherein the viral vector is selected from the group consisting of poxvirus, adenovirus, retrovirus, herpesvirus, and adeno-associated virus. 
     
     
         29 . The expression vector of  claim 28  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of vaccinia, NYVAC, avipox, canarypox, ALVAC, ALVAC(2), fowlpox, and TROVAC. 
     
     
         30 . The poxvirus of  claim 29  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of NYVAC, ALVAC, and ALVAC(2). 
     
     
         31 . A method for preventing or treating cancer comprising administering to a host an expression vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence illustrated in SEQ ID NO.: 29 or SEQ ID NO.: 31; a nucleic acid sequence encoding the amino acid sequence illustrated in SEQ ID NO.: 30 or SEQ ID NO.: 32; or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The expression vector of  claim 31  wherein the vector is a plasmid or a viral vector. 
     
     
         33 . The expression vector of  claim 32  wherein the viral vector is selected from the group consisting of poxvirus, adenovirus, retrovirus, herpesvirus, and adeno-associated virus. 
     
     
         34 . The expression vector of  claim 33  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of vaccinia, NYVAC, avipox, canarypox, ALVAC, ALVAC(2), fowlpox, and TROVAC. 
     
     
         35 . The poxvirus of  claim 34  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of NYVAC, ALVAC, and ALVAC(2). 
     
     
         36 . An isolated peptide derived from BFY3 as shown in Table XV or XVI. 
     
     
         37 . A method for immunizing a host against the tumor antigen BFY3 comprising administering to the patient a peptide shown in Table XV or XVI, either alone or in combination with another agent, where the individual components of the combination are administered simultaneously or separately from one another. 
     
     
         38 . An isolated peptide derived from BFY3 as shown in Table XV or XVI. 
     
     
         39 . A method for immunizing a host against the tumor antigen BFY3 comprising administering to the patient a peptide shown in Table XV or XVI, either alone or in combination with another agent, where the individual components of the combination are administered simultaneously or separately from one another. 
     
     
         40 . An isolated peptide derived from BCZ4 as shown in Table XIII or XVI. 
     
     
         41 . A method for immunizing a host against the tumor antigen BCZ4 comprising administering to the patient a peptide shown in Table XIII or XIV, either alone or in combination with another agent; where the individual components of the combination are administered simultaneously or separately from one another. 
     
     
         42 . An isolated peptide derived from BCZ4 as shown in Table XIII or XVI. 
     
     
         43 . A method for immunizing a host against the tumor antigen BCZ4 comprising administering to the patient a peptide shown in Table XIII or XVI, either alone or in combination with another agent, where the individual components of the combination are administered simultaneously or separately from one another. 
     
     
         44 . A expression vector for expression of multiple tumor antigens or fragments thereof, the expression vector comprising at least two nucleic acid sequences encoding at least two different tumor antigens or fragments thereof, the tumor antigens being selected from the group consisting of BFA4, BCY1, BFA5, BCZ4, and BFY3. 
     
     
         45 . A expression vector for expression of multiple tumor antigens or fragments thereof, the expression vector comprising at least two nucleic acid sequences encoding at least two different tumor antigens or fragments thereof, the nucleic acid sequences being selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO.: 23, SEQ ID NO.: 25, SEQ ID NO.: 27, SEQ ID NO.: 29, and SEQ ID NO.: 31. 
     
     
         46 . The expression vector of  claim 44  or  45  wherein the vector is a plasmid or a viral vector. 
     
     
         47 . The expression vector of  claim 46  wherein the viral vector is selected from the group consisting of poxvirus, adenovirus, retrovirus, herpesvirus, and adeno-associated virus. 
     
     
         48 . The expression vector of  claim 47  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of vaccinia, NYVAC, avipox, canarypox, ALVAC, ALVAC(2), fowlpox, and TROVAC. 
     
     
         49 . The expression vector of  claim 48  wherein the viral vector is a poxvirus selected from the group consisting of NYVAC, ALVAC, and ALVAC(2). 
     
     
         50 . The expression vector of any one of  claims 44  to  49  further comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a co-stimulatory component.