Fusion cytokine composition and method of use thereof

Abstract

This specification describes immunogenic compositions comprising tumor cells expressing a fusokine containing GM-CSF linked to IL-7 by a peptide linker. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating patients with glioblastoma using tumor cells expressing a fusokine containing GM-CSF linked to IL-7 by a peptide linker.

Claims

1. An immunogenic composition, An immunogenic composition comprising tumor cells expressing a fusokine containing GM-CSF linked to IL-7 by a peptide linker.

2. The immunogenic composition according to claim 1, wherein the fusocane comprises a sequence having 95% or more sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:

1.

3. The immunogenic composition according to claim 1, wherein the fusocane has the sequence of Sequence ID No.

1.

4. The immunogenic composition according to claim 1, wherein the tumor cells contain a lentivirus or AAV vector expressing the fusokine.

5. The immunogenic composition according to claim 1, wherein the tumor cells contain mRNA for the expression of the fusokine.

6. The immunogenic composition according to claim 1, wherein the tumor cells are autologous tumor cell lines, allogeneic tumor cell lines, or autologous cells from a tumor sample derived from a patient.

7. The immunogenic composition according to claim 1, wherein the tumor cells are non-proliferative.

8. The immunogenic composition according to claim 7, wherein the tumor cells are irradiated to prevent proliferation or subjected to gene editing.

9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an immunogenic composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

10. A method for treating a patient requiring treatment for glioma, comprising administering the pharmaceutical composition described in claim 9.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the glioma is a glioblastoma and the patient is a human patient aged 64 years or older.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the administration is by peripheral injection.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the injection is a subcutaneous or intramuscular injection.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the patient is a human patient.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the glioblastoma has been previously treated by surgical resection, followed by radiation therapy and optionally by chemotherapy.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the treatment reduces intracranial tumor growth, provides an antitumor immune response (increase in CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, effector memory T cells, Il-2, Il-4, IL-1β, caspase-1, NLRP3), or provides an increase in overall survival.

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