Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of prostate cancer

Abstract

Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of cancer, particularly prostate cancer, are disclosed. Illustrative compositions comprise one or more prostate-specific polypeptides, immunogenic portions thereof, polynucleotides that encode such polypeptides, antigen presenting cell that expresses such polypeptides, and T cells that are specific for cells expressing such polypeptides. The disclosed compositions are useful, for example, in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases, particularly prostate cancer.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising no more than X amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO: 113, wherein said polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO: 1037, and wherein X is selected from the group consisting of 11-542.  
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein SEQ ID NO: 1037 comprises an 11 amino acid fragment of SEQ ID NO: 113 that contains naturally processed T-cell epitopes for three Class I MHC alleles.  
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of 11-100.  
     
     
         4 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of 11-50.  
     
     
         5 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of 11-25.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 1034-1036;    (b) complements of the sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 1034-1036;    (c) sequences consisting of at least 20 contiguous residues of a sequence provided in SEQ ID NOs: 1034-1036;    (d) sequences that hybridize to a sequence provided in SEQ ID NOs: 1034-1036, under highly stringent conditions;    (e) sequences having at least 75% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1034-1036;    (f) sequences having at least 90% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1034-1036; and    (g) degenerate variants of a sequence provided in SEQ ID NOs: 1034-1036; and    (h) sequences encoding a polypeptide according to  claim 1 .    
     
     
         7 . An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) sequences encoded by a polynucleotide of  claim 6;  and    (b) sequences having at least 70% identity to a sequence encoded by a polynucleotide of  claim 6;     (c) sequences having at least 90% identity to a sequence encoded by a polynucleotide of  claim 6;     (d) sequences consisting of at least 5 contiguous amino acids of a sequence encoded by a polynucleotide of  claim 6;     (e) sequences consisting of at least 10 contiguous amino acids of a sequence encoded by a polynucleotide of  claim 6;  and    (f) sequences consisting of at least 20 contiguous amino acids of a sequence encoded by a polynucleotide of  claim 6 .    
     
     
         8 . An expression vector comprising a polynucleotide of  claim 6  operably linked to an expression control sequence.  
     
     
         9 . A host cell transformed or transfected with an expression vector according to  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . An isolated antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to a polypeptide of claims  1  or  7 .  
     
     
         11 . A method for detecting the presence of a cancer in a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) obtaining a biological sample from the patient;    (b) contacting the biological sample with a binding agent that binds to a polypeptide of claims  1  or  7  or a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 108;    (c) detecting in the sample an amount of polypeptide that binds to the binding agent; and    (d) comparing the amount of polypeptide to a predetermined cut-off value and therefrom determining the presence of a cancer in the patient.    
     
     
         12 . A fusion protein comprising at least one polypeptide according to claims  1  or  7 .  
     
     
         13 . An oligonucleotide that hybridizes to a sequence recited in SEQ ID NOs: 1034-1036 under highly stringent conditions.  
     
     
         14 . A method for stimulating and/or expanding T cells specific for a tumor protein, comprising contacting T cells with at least one component selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) polypeptides according to claims  1  or  7 ;    (b) polynucleotides according to  claim 6;  and    (c) antigen-presenting cells that express a polynucleotide according to  claim 6 ,    under conditions and for a time sufficient to permit the stimulation and/or expansion of T cells.    
     
     
         15 . An isolated T cell population, comprising T cells prepared according to the method of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         16 . A composition comprising a first component selected from the group consisting of physiologically acceptable carriers and immunostimulants, and a second component selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) polypeptides according to claims  1  or  7 ;    (b) polynucleotides according to  claim 6;     (c) antibodies according to  claim 10;     (d) fusion proteins according to  claim 12;     (e) T cell populations according to  claim 15;  and    (f) antigen presenting cells that express a polypeptide according to claims  1  or  7 .    
     
     
         17 . A method for stimulating an immune response in a patient, comprising administering to the patient a composition of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         18 . A method for the treatment of a prostate cancer in a patient, comprising administering to the patient a composition of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         19 . A method for determining the presence of a cancer in a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) obtaining a biological sample from the patient;    (b) contacting the biological sample with an oligonucleotide according to  claim 13  or an oligonucleotide specific for SEQ ID NO: 107;    (c) detecting in the sample an amount of a polynucleotide that hybridizes to the oligonucleotide; and    (d) comparing the amount of polynucleotide that hybridizes to the oligonucleotide to a predetermined cut-off value, and therefrom determining the presence of the cancer in the patient.    
     
     
         20 . A diagnostic kit comprising at least one oligonucleotide according to  claim 13 .  
     
     
         21 . A diagnostic kit comprising at least one antibody according to  claim 10  and a detection reagent, wherein the detection reagent comprises a reporter group.  
     
     
         22 . A method for the treatment of prostate cancer in a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) incubating CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells isolated from a patient with at least one component selected from the group consisting of: (i) polypeptides according to claims  1  or  7 ; (ii) polynucleotides according to  claim 6;  and (iii) antigen presenting cells that express a polypeptide of claims  1  or  7 , such that T cell proliferate;    (b) administering to the patient an effective amount of the proliferated T cells,    and thereby inhibiting the development of a cancer in the patient.