Cancer immunotherapy

Abstract

A method for stimulating a immune response against IL-13Rα2 in a subject having or at risk for developing a disease having cells expressing IL-13Rα2 includes the steps of formulating the anti-cancer vaccine outside of the subject and administering the vaccine to the subject in an amount sufficient to stimulate an immune response against IL-13Rα2 in the subject. A composition for stimulating a immune response against IL-13Rα2 in a subject having or at risk for developing a disease having cells expressing IL-13Rα2 includes an isolated agent that can stimulate immune response against IL-13α2.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 : A method for stimulating an immune response against IL-13Rα2 in a subject having tumor cells, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) formulating a composition outside of the subject, the composition comprising an agent that can stimulate an immune response against IL-13Rα2 when administered to a subject having tumor cells; wherein the agent that can stimulate an immune response against IL-13Rα2 is a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a protein fragment thereof; and,   (b) administering the composition to the subject in an amount sufficient to stimulate an immune response against IL-13Rα2 in the subject.   
     
     
         40 : The method of  claim 39 , wherein the composition further comprises an adjuvant. 
     
     
         41 : The method of  claim 40 , wherein the adjuvant comprises a substance selected from the group consisting of: an aluminum salt; an oil-in-water emulsion; a composition comprising saponin; a composition comprising a bacterial protein; and a cytokine. 
     
     
         42 : The method of  claim 40 , wherein step (b) of administering the composition to the subject in an amount sufficient to stimulate an immune response against IL-13Rα2 in the subject comprises administering the composition in at least a first dose and a second dose, wherein said first dose is administered to the subject at least 24 hours before said second dose is administered to the subject. 
     
     
         43 : The method of  claim 39 , further comprising the step of providing a subject having or at risk for developing a cancer having cells expressing IL-13Rα2. 
     
     
         44 : The method of  claim 43 , wherein the cells expressing IL-13Rα2 are glioma cells. 
     
     
         45 : The method of  claim 39 , wherein the subject is a human being. 
     
     
         46 : The method of  claim 39 , wherein the agent comprises amino acids 27-343 of SEQ ID NO:1.