Genetic immunization against cervical carcinoma

Abstract

An alphavirus vector system comprising nucleic acid of a human papilloma virus origin is disclosed. A method of treating or preventing cervical cancer is also disclosed. The method includes administering the alphavirus vector system and/or a cell comprising nucleic acid derived from human papilloma virus (HPV) to a subject. The alphavirus vector system or the cell may be administered as a vaccine.

1 . An  alphavirus  vector system comprising a nucleic acid molecule of human papilloma virus (HPV) origin.  
     
     
         2 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule encodes at least one antigenic polypeptide fragment of HPV.  
     
     
         3 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 2 , wherein said polypeptide fragment is of a protein E6 or a protein E7 origin.  
     
     
         4 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 3 , wherein said polypeptide fragment comprises an antigenic polypeptide fragment of the protein E6 and an antigenic polypeptide fragment of the protein E7.  
     
     
         5 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 3 , wherein said polypeptide fragment has a reduced capacity to bind to pRb or P53 protein.  
     
     
         6 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 1 , further comprising a translational enhancer element.  
     
     
         7 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sequence encoding an auto-protease.  
     
     
         8 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 7 , wherein said auto-protease is of foot-and-mouth-disease virus origin.  
     
     
         9 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 1 , wherein an  alphavirus  structural protein and an  alphavirus  non-structural protein are encoded by at least two independent nucleic acid molecules.  
     
     
         10 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 1 , wherein the  alphavirus  is Semliki Forest Virus.  
     
     
         11 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 1 , wherein said HPV comprises HPV16 or HPV18.  
     
     
         12 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule further encodes a cytokine or a functional fragment thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 12 , wherein said cytokine comprises Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating-Factor or IL12.  
     
     
         14 . A cell comprising the  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A medicament comprising the  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         16 . A medicament comprising the cell of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         17 . A method for treating or preventing cervical cancer, said method comprising administering the  alphavirus  vector system of  claim 1  to a female subject.  
     
     
         18 . A method for treating or preventing cervical cancer, said method comprising administering the cell of  claim 14  to a female subject.  
     
     
         19 . A method for treating or preventing cervical cancer, said method comprising administering the medicament of  claim 15  to a female subject.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising administering a cytokine or a functional fragment thereof to the female subject.