title: Granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor enhances immune responses to melanoma-associated peptides in vivo.
abstract: Peptide epitopes derived from differentiation antigens of the melanocyte lineage were recently identified in human melanomas as targets for MHC-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The characterization of multiple CTL-defined antigenic determinants has opened possibilities of development of antigen-targeted vaccines. In the present study, we determined CTL reactivity against melanoma-associated peptides derived from Melan A/MART-1, tyrosinase, and gp100/Pmel17 in 3 HLA-A2+ melanoma patients. Then, we assessed the immune responses to synthetic melanoma-associated peptides injected intradermally. After 3 cycles of immunization with peptide alone, we used systemic GM-CSF as an adjuvant during the fourth cycle of immunization. Enhanced DTH reactions and CD8+ CTL responses were observed after treatment with systemic GM-CSF. Immunohistochemical characterization of DTH-constituting elements revealed infiltrates of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and strong expression of IL-2 and gammaIFN, suggesting the activation of CD4+ ThI and CD8+ CTL by peptides presented by MHC-class-I molecules of dermal APC. Objective tumor regression was documented in all patients. We conclude that systemic GM-CSF enhances immune responses to melanoma-associated peptides and supports CTL-mediated tumor rejection in vivo.
authors.affiliation: II. Medizinische Klinik, Hämatologie-Onkologie, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ringhoffer
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Dienes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arand
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karbach
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ilsemann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagedorn
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oesch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knuth
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007114:Immunization; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology*; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor