title: Peptides in melanoma therapy.
abstract: Peptides derived from tumor associated antigens can be utilized to elicit a therapeutically effective immune response against melanoma in experimental models. However, patient vaccination with peptides - although it is often followed by the induction of melanoma- specific T lymphocytes - is rarely associated with tumor response of clinical relevance. In this review I summarize the principles of peptide design as well as the results so far obtained in the clinical setting while treating cutaneous melanoma by means of this active immunotherapy strategy. I also discuss some immunological and methodological issues that might be helpful for the successful development of peptide-based vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncological and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy. simone.mocellin@unipd.it
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mocellin
mesh_terms: D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D010455:Peptides