Cancer vaccines

Abstract

The present disclosure provides (i) isolated immunogenic TAA polypeptides (i.e., an immunogenic MUC1 polypeptides, an immunogenic MSLN polypeptides, and an immunogenic TERT polypeptides), (ii) isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding one or more immunogenic TAA polypeptides, (iii) compositions comprising an immunogenic TAA polypeptide or an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding an immunogenic TAA polypeptide, and (iv) methods relating to uses of the polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules, and compositions.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An antigen construct, which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding an immunogenic TERT polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:3, wherein about 200 to about 600 amino acids of the N-terminus of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 are absent. 
     
     
         22 . The antigen construct of  claim 21 , where in the immunogenic TERT polypeptide comprises amino acids 501-1132 of SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         23 . The antigen construct of  claim 21 , where in the immunogenic TERT polypeptide comprises amino acids 200-1132 of SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         24 . The antigen construct of  claim 21 , wherein the immunogenic TERT polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10 or amino acids 20892 of SEQ ID NO:10;   (2) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 or amino acids 4-591 of SEQ ID NO:12; and   (3) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:14 or amino acids 3-789 of SEQ ID NO:14.   
     
     
         25 . The antigen construct of  claim 21 , wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding the immunogenic TERT polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:9;   (2) a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:11;   (3) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:13; and   (4) a degenerate variant of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:11, or SEQ ID NO:13.   
     
     
         26 . The antigen construct of  claim 21 , which is a DNA. 
     
     
         27 . The antigen construct of  claim 21 , which is an RNA 
     
     
         28 . A vector, comprising the antigen construct of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         29 . The vector of  claim 28 , where the vector is a plasmid vector. 
     
     
         30 . The vector of  claim 28 , wherein the vector is a viral vector. 
     
     
         31 . A composition, comprising the antigen construct of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 31 , where in the antigen construct is an RNA. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 31 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein where in the antigen construct is an RNA. 
     
     
         35 . A method of treating cancer in a patient, comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of the composition of  claim 33 . 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the cancer over-expresses tumor-associated antigen TERT. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the cancer is breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising administering to the patient an immune modulator. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the immune modulator is a PD-1 inhibitor or PD-L1 inhibitor. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the immune modulator RN888.