Tomm34 peptides and vaccines including the same

Abstract

The present invention provides isolated peptides or the fragments derived from SEQ ID NO: 42, which bind to an HLA antigen and induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The peptides may include one of the above mentioned amino acid sequences with substitution, deletion, or addition of one, two, or several amino acids sequences. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions including these peptides. The peptides of this invention can be used for treating cancer.

1 . An isolated peptide of less than 15 amino acids following (a) or (b):
 (a) an isolated peptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 5 31 and 32; or   (b) an isolated peptide comprising an amino acid sequence in which one, two, or several amino acid(s) are substituted, deleted, inserted or added to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 5, 31 and 32 to yield a modified peptide that retains the ability to bind to an HLA antigen and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) inducibility.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The isolated peptide of  claim 1 , wherein said peptide is a nonapeptide or decapeptide. 
     
     
         4 . The peptide of  claim 1 , having at least one substitution selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) the second amino acid from N-terminus is or is modified to be an amino acid selected from the group consisting of leucine and methionine, and   (b) the C-terminal amino acid is or is modified to be an amino acid selected from the group consisting of valine and leucine.   
     
     
         5 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the peptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . A composition for inducing CTL, wherein the composition comprises one or more peptide(s) of  claim 1 , or one or more polynucleotide(s) of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising:
 (a) one or more peptide(s) of  claim 1 ;   (b) one or more polynucleotides encoding the peptide of (a);   (c) one or more APCs or exosomes that present a complex of the peptide of  claim 1  and an HLA antigen on their surface; or   (d) one or more CTLs that recognize a cell presenting a complex of the peptide of  claim 1  and an HLA antigen on its surface,   in combination with pharmaceutically acceptable carrier,   formulated for a purpose selected from the group consisting of:   (i) treatment of an existing cancer,   (ii) prophylaxis of a cancer,   (iii) prevention of a postoperative recurrence of a cancer, and   (vi) combinations thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 7 , which is formulated for administration to a subject whose HLA antigen is HLA-A2. 
     
     
         9 . A method for inducing an antigen-presenting cell (APC) with CTL inducibility, wherein the method comprises a step selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) contacting an APC with peptide of  claim 1  in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo, and   (b) introducing a polynucleotide encoding the peptide of  claim 1  into an APC.   
     
     
         10 . A method for inducing a CTL, comprising a step selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) co-culturing a CD8-positive T cell with an APC that presents on its surface a complex of an HLA antigen and the peptide of  claim 1 ,   (b) co-culturing a CD8-positive T cell with an exosome that presents on its surface a complex of an HLA antigen and the peptide of  claim 1 , and   (c) introducing into a T cell a polynucleotide/polynucleotides encoding T cell receptor (TCR) subunit polypeptides, wherein the TCR formed by said TCR subunit polypeptides is capable of binding to a complex of an HLA antigen and the peptide of  claim 1  on a cell surface.   
     
     
         11 . An isolated APC that presents on its surface a complex of an HLA antigen and the peptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . An isolated APC, which is induced by a method for inducing an antigen-presenting cell (APC) with CTL inducibility, wherein the method comprises a step selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) contacting an APC with the peptide of  claim 1  in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo, and   (b) introducing a polynucleotide encoding the peptide of  claim 1  into an APC.   
     
     
         13 . An isolated CTL that targets the peptides of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . An isolated CTL, which is induced by a method for inducing a CTL, wherein the method comprises a step selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) co-culturing a CD8-positive T cell with an APC that presents on its surface a complex of an HLA antigen and the peptide of  claim 1 ,   (b) co-culturing a CD8-positive T cell with an exosome that presents on its surface a complex of an HLA antigen and the peptide of  claim 1 , and   (c) introducing into a T cell a polynucleotide/polynucleotides encoding T cell receptor (TCR) subunit polypeptides, wherein the TCR formed by said TCR subunit polypeptides is capable of binding to a complex of an HLA antigen and the peptide of  claim 1  on a cell surface.   
     
     
         15 . A method of inducing an immune response against cancer in a subject, wherein the method comprises the step of administering to the subject the peptide of  claim 1 , an immunologically active fragment thereof, or a polynucleotide encoding the peptide or the fragment. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled)