Technology evaluation: Theratope, Biomira Inc.

Abstract

Active specific immunotherapy, the use of 'vaccines' to stimulate therapeutic tumor antigen-specific immune responses, holds promise as a complementary approach to chemotherapy, radiation and surgery for the treatment of patients with cancers that have a high risk of relapse or progressive disease. Important components of an agent used for active immunotherapy are immunogens in the form of tumor-associated antigen(s) and an adjuvant or carrier molecule to promote presentation of the antigen to the immune effector cells. Possible antigens include tumor-expressed proteins or carbohydrate structures such as the glycoprotein mucin and its epitopes. The Theratope vaccine, consisting of a synthetic mimic of the mucin-associated glycan epitope STn conjugated to the carrier molecule keyhole limpet hemocyanin, has been developed for immunizing patients with mucin-expressing tumors. In murine and human studies, the vaccine has been shown to stimulate anti-STn antibodies and mucin-specific T-cell responses. The immune response is augmented by pretreatment with intravenous cyclophosphamide that serves to inhibit suppressor T-cells. Phase II studies suggested a survival benefit for breast cancer patients who received the Theratope vaccine after intravenous cyclophosphamide. A multinational phase III study testing the Theratope vaccine in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have had a clinical response or stability of disease is ongoing. Other malignancies for which the vaccine may be applicable include ovarian and gastrointestinal cancers.

• Authors: M A Morse
• Journal: Current opinion in molecular therapeutics (Curr Opin Mol Ther) Vol. 2 Issue 4 Pg. 453-8 (Aug 2000) ISSN: 1464-8431 [Print] England
• PMID: 11249777 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Clinical Trial, Phase I, Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate
• Cancer Vaccines
• sialosyl-Tn antigen
• sialyl-Tn antigen-keyhole-limpet hemocyanin conjugate
• Hemocyanins

Topics

• Animals
• Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate (immunology, therapeutic use)
• Biotechnology
• Breast Neoplasms (therapy)
• Cancer Vaccines (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Hemocyanins (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental (therapy)
• Neoplasms (immunology, therapy)