Method for identifying immunoreactive peptides

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for identifying immunoreactive peptides. According to said method, a sample of tumorous and corresponding healthy tissue is first provided, the tumor-specific expression profile is subsequently determined and antigenic peptides are isolated from the tumorous tissue and analyzed. The respective data that has been obtained is then matched and peptides are identified on the basis of said data.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 000,474, filed Nov. 29, 2004, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT / EP03 / 05038, filed May 14, 2003, designating the United States and published in German as WO 03 / 100432, which claims priority to German Application No. 102 25 139.8, filed May 29, 2002.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The invention relates to a method for identifying and to a method for preparing immunoreactive peptides and to the immunoreactive peptides identified / prepared thereby.[0003]Such peptides are being used—for example—in immunotherapy of tumor-associated diseases. When tumor cells are eliminated by the immune system the identification of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) by components of the immune system plays a pivotal role. This mechanism is based upon the fact that there exist qualitative or quantitative differences between tumor cells...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a new method for easily identifying peptides that trigger the immune system, which can be useful for industrial laboratories and clinics. This method involves detecting the expression of certain genes in blood cells, such as interferon or cytokin, which indicate the specific response of the immune system to a particular peptide. This information can be used to develop new treatments for patients.

Problems solved by technology

Drawbacks of patients-derived T-cell-based approaches are the extensive culture techniques and their restriction to the frequency of pre-existing T-cells.

However, a disadvantage is that epitope prediction even for only a few target genes results in the identification of a vast number of candidate peptides, the majority of which are actually not presented by MHC molecules and thus do not induce a CTL-response.

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