Compositions, Methods and Kits for Eliciting an Immune Response

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions, methods, and kits for eliciting an immune response to at least one CMV antigen expressed by a cancer cell, in particular for treating and preventing cancer. CMV determination methods, compositions, and kits also are provided.

1 .- 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A method of eliciting in a subject an immune response to a cancer cell that expresses a cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen, the method comprising:
 administering to the subject a composition comprising a polynucleotide encoding a phosphoprotein unique long 83 (ppUL83; a/k/a pp65) or glycoprotein UL55 (gpUL55; a/k/a gB), or immunogenic fragments thereof wherein the composition, when administered to the subject, elicits an immune response to the cancer cell, and wherein the subject prior to the administration has been diagnosed with a cancer associated with CMV.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the composition is provided in a therapeutically effective amount sufficient to treat a cancer associated with CMV in the subject. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a glioblastoma. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a breast cancer. 
     
     
         55 . The method of claim of  claim 51 , wherein the composition comprises a polynucleotide encoding the phosphoprotein unique long 83 (ppUL83; a/k/a pp65) or immunogenic fragment thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the composition is provided in a therapeutically effective amount sufficient to treat a cancer associated with CMV in the subject. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a glioblastoma. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a breast cancer. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one adjuvant. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the adjuvant is selected from at least one of:
 GM-CSF, G-CSF, IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15, IL-21, TNF-α, and M-CSF.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the adjuvant is GM-CSF. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the composition is provided in a therapeutically effective amount sufficient to treat a cancer associated with CMV in the subject. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a glioblastoma. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a breast cancer. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the composition comprises a polynucleotide encoding the glycoprotein UL55 (gpUL55; a/k/a gB) or immunogenic fragment thereof. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the composition is provided in a therapeutically effective amount sufficient to treat a cancer associated with CMV in the subject. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a glioblastoma. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a breast cancer. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one adjuvant. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the adjuvant is selected from at least one of:
 GM-CSF, G-CSF, IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15, IL-21, TNF-α, and M-CSF.   
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein the adjuvant is GM-CSF. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the composition is provided in a therapeutically effective amount sufficient to treat a cancer associated with CMV in the subject. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a glioblastoma. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a breast cancer. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the composition comprises the polynucleotides encoding both the phosphoprotein unique long 83 (ppUL83; a/k/a pp65) and glycoprotein UL55 (gpUL55; a/k/a gB), or immunogenic fragments thereof. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the composition is provided in a therapeutically effective amount sufficient to treat a cancer associated with CMV in the subject. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a glioblastoma. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a breast cancer. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one adjuvant. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the adjuvant is selected from at least one of:
 GM-CSF, G-CSF, IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15, IL-21, TNF-α, and M-CSF.   
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the adjuvant is GM-CSF. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the composition is provided in a therapeutically effective amount sufficient to treat a cancer associated with CMV in the subject. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a glioblastoma. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the cancer associated with CMV is a breast cancer.