Kidney-specific tumor vaccine directed against kidney tumor antigen g-250

Abstract

This invention provides an anti-cancer immunogenic agent(s) (e.g. vaccines) that elicit an immune response specifically directed against renal cell cancers expressing a G250 antigenic marker. Preferred immunogenic agents comprise a chimeric molecule comprising a kidney cancer specific antigen (G250) attached to a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The agents are useful in a wide variety of treatment modalities including, but not limited to protein vaccination, DNA vaccination, and adoptive immunotherapy.

1 - 85 . (canceled) 
     
     
         86 . A vector gene delivery system, comprising a vector that comprises a nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein comprising a human G250 kidney cancer specific antigen attached to a human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), wherein the G250 antigen is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 and the GM-CSF is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:24. 
     
     
         87 . The vector gene delivery system of  claim 86 , wherein the G250 antigen and the GM-CSF are joined by a peptide linker ranging in length from 2 to about 20 amino acids. 
     
     
         88 . The vector gene delivery system of  claim 87 , wherein the peptide linker is -Arg-Arg-. 
     
     
         89 . The vector gene delivery system of  claim 86 , wherein the fusion protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         90 . The vector gene delivery system of  claim 86 , wherein the nucleic acid is operably linked to one or more regulatory elements for gene expression. 
     
     
         91 . The vector gene delivery system of  claim 90 , wherein the nucleic acid is operably linked to a promoter. 
     
     
         92 . The vector gene delivery system of  claim 86 , wherein the vector is a viral vector. 
     
     
         93 . The vector gene delivery system of  claim 92 , wherein the viral vector is an adeno-associated virus (AAV), adenoviral, retroviral, lentiviral, simian virus 40, or baculoviral vector. 
     
     
         94 . A method of inducing an immune response against a G250 antigen in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject the vector gene delivery system of  claim 86 . 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         96 . A method of activating an immune cell, the method comprising transfecting or transducing the immune cell in vitro or ex vivo with the vector gene delivery system of  claim 86 . 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein the immune cell is a dendritic cell, an antigen presenting cell, a B-cell, a T-cell, a monocyte, a peripheral blood lymphocyte, or a tumor infiltrating lymphocyte. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 96 , further comprising expanding the activated immune cell in culture. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein the immune cell is from a human subject. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 96 , further comprising administering the activated immune cell to a subject. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 100 , wherein the immune cell is autologous to the subject. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 100 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         103 . An immune cell comprising the vector gene delivery system of  claim 86 . 
     
     
         104 . A dendritic cell comprising the vector gene delivery system of  claim 86 .