Antigen Package (SK 1077/977/879/760/719/625)

Summary of Invention

Tumor-specific antigens have been identified and pursued as targets for vaccines. Most antigens on the surface of tumor cells are comprised of carbohydrate molecules, making them logical targets for cancer vaccine development. Antibodies to some carbohydrate antigens have been detected in patient sera, and have been associated with a more favorable prognosis.

Previous work to take advantage of these carbohydrate antigens was unsuccessful due to a poor immunological response to the form of antigen delivered to the patient. Researchers at Sloan-Kettering have combined their efforts to mount an effective immune response against tumor antigens by synthesizing target antigens and by applying novel methods of presenting the antigen to the patient.

The antigen is linked to a carrier protein (KLH) and administered to patients with a potent adjuvant. With advances in organic chemistry, several target carbohydrate antigens that were previously difficult to purify and study have been synthesized and incorporated into vaccines. Clinical research is ongoing and currently focused on polyvalent vaccines, containing several such antigen-KLH conjugates. Target antigens include Globo H, MUC1, KH1, Lewis Y, Fucosyl GM1, and others in development.

Advantages

• Vaccines tested in humans have shown low toxicity.
• This technology can be applied to a broad range of cancers. Many of the target antigens are expressed on several different tumor cells.

Areas of Application

Cancer vaccine.

Stage of Development

• Induction of immunological response and antigen-specific antibodies already demonstrated for individual antigens in Phase I clinical trials.
• Several Phase II clinical trials currently underway/planned for different combinations of antigens (polyvalent vaccines) in several types of cancers.

Patent information

Patent protection available; coverage includes individual antigens, as well as combinations of antigens.

Lead Inventors

Dr. Philip O. Livingston
Dr. Samuel J. Danishefsky

Contact Information

Julia Calonge, PhD
Tel: 212-639-6181; Fax: 212-717-3439
E-mail: calongej@mskcc.org