CD4+ T cells in antitumor immunity: utility of an li-key HER2/neu hybrid peptide vaccine (AE37).
BACKGROUND
Early clinical trials of HER2/neu-derived peptide vaccines indicate that they may be useful for preventing recurrence in breast cancer patients rendered disease-free after standard-of-care therapy. An effective vaccination strategy will probably require stimulation of T helper (Th) cells. AE37 is an HER2/neu-derived peptide that has been modified to enhance antigen-specific stimulation of Th cells by linkage of the Ii-Key moiety of the MHC class II-associated invariant chain (Ii protein).


OBJECTIVE
To review the literature regarding the role of a Th response in immunotherapy with a focus on this novel HER2/neu-derived AE37 peptide.


CONCLUSIONS
Improved immuno-genicity of the AE37 Ii-key hybrid peptide has been demonstrated in animal models, ex vivo patient cells, and, most recently, in a Phase I clinical trial in breast cancer patients. Future clinical trials incorporating AE37 into a peptide vaccine strategy are warranted.
Mittendorf
Elizabeth A
EA
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Surgical Oncology, Houston, TX 77030, USA. eamitten@mdanderson.org
Holmes
Jarrod P
JP
Murray
James L
JL
von Hofe
Eric
E
Peoples
George E
GE
D000818:Animals; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C530655:AE37 vaccine; C045084:invariant chain