Method for improving the efficacy of a survivin vaccine in the treatment of cancer

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for improving the efficacy of a vaccine in the treatment of cancer. The methods of the invention comprise the administration of at least two doses of an agent that interferes with DNA replication prior to vaccination with a survivin vaccine. Also provided are compositions for use in the methods of the invention.

1 . A method for improving the efficacy of a vaccine in the treatment of cancer in a subject, said method comprising:
 (i) administering to the subject at least two doses of a nitrogen mustard alkylating agent in an amount sufficient to provide an immune-modulating effect; and   (ii) subsequently administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the vaccine, wherein the vaccine comprises at least one survivin antigen,   wherein the survivin antigen is a peptide antigen comprising an amino acid sequence from the survivin protein (SEQ ID NO: 11) that is capable of eliciting a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response in the subject, or a nucleic acid molecule encoding said peptide antigen.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising administering a first dose of the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent to the subject at least two days, at least four days, or at least one week prior to administering the vaccine. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising administering the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent for a period of at least two consecutive days. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising administering to the subject a first dose of the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent, followed by one or more maintenance doses of the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising administering the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent to the subject at least 1, 2, 3 or 4 times daily prior to administering the vaccine. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising administering the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent twice daily for a period of about one week prior to administering the vaccine. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the administering of the subject with the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent is stopped prior to administering the vaccine. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the administering of the subject with the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent continues during the course of administering the vaccine. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising administering the vaccine to the subject about once every three weeks. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  comprising administering the vaccine to the subject 2, 3, 4 or more times. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising administering the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent to the subject in a metronomic regimen. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the metronomic regimen comprises administering the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent to the subject daily for a period of about one week every second week. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  comprising administering the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent to the subject beginning about one week before administering a first dose of the vaccine, and comprising administering the vaccine to the subject about once every three weeks. 
     
     
         15 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen mustard alkylating agent is cyclophosphamide. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the amount sufficient to provide an immune-modulating effect is about 25-300 mg/day, preferably about 50-100 mg/day, and more preferably about 100 mg/day of cyclophosphamide. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the amount sufficient to provide an immune-modulating effect is about 50 mg of cyclophosphamide per dose. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 22  comprising orally administering the cyclophosphamide to the subject. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the vaccine is a composition comprising the at least one survivin antigen, liposomes, and a carrier comprising a continuous phase of a hydrophobic substance. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the composition further comprises a T-helper epitope. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the composition further comprises an adjuvant. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the carrier is a hydrophobic substance such as a vegetable oil, nut oil or mineral oil. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein:
 the carrier is mineral oil or is a mannide oleate in mineral oil solution; and/or   the T-helper epitope is a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence AQYIKANSKFIGITEL (SEQ ID NO: 9); and/or   the adjuvant is a polyl:C polynucleotide.   
     
     
         34 - 36 . 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is a subcutaneous solid tumor, ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or peritoneal cancer. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         40 - 41 . (canceled)