title: Clinical development of the STn-KLH vaccine (Theratope).
abstract: The development of active specific immunotherapy depends on the identification of altered cancer cell-specific molecules or epitopes that are immunogenic. Many cancer-specific peptide or glycoprotein target antigens have been identified. Tumors carrying aberrant epitopes as a result of underglycosylation of mucins are associated with poor prognosis in many epithelial cancers. The aberrant mucin sialyl-Tn (STn) epitope, in addition to being a predictor of poor prognosis when expressed in tumors, is associated with increased aggressiveness and metastatic potential, making it a promising target for immunotherapy. The STn-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) vaccine (Theratope) is an investigational active specific immunotherapy consisting of a synthetic STn epitope conjugated to a high molecular weight protein carrier, KLH. The immune response generated by the STn-KLH vaccine is both humoral and cellular. More than 1000 breast cancer patients with metastatic disease are currently enrolled in a phase III clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of the STn-KLH vaccine. Interim analysis from a current phase III trial has confirmed the safety of the STn-KLH vaccine, and the clinical outcome awaits the final analysis expected in 2003.
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030-4009, USA. nibrahim@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Nuhad K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: James Lee
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000639:trends; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D000939:Epitopes; C099077:sialyl-Tn antigen-keyhole-limpet hemocyanin conjugate; D006433:Hemocyanins