Novel cancer antigens and methods

Abstract

Specifically disclosed are polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides, which are useful in the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of cancer, particularly melanoma, especially cutaneous melanoma and uveal melanoma.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to antigenic polypeptides and corresponding polynucleotides for use in the treatment or prevention of cancer, in particular for use in the treatment or prevention of melanoma (e.g., cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma). The invention further relates, inter alia, to pharmaceutical and immunogenic compositions comprising said nucleic acids and polypeptides, immune cells loaded with and / or stimulated by the polypeptides and polynucleotides, antibodies specific for the polypeptides, and cells (of autologous or other origin) genetically engineered with molecules that recognize the polypeptides. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As part of normal immune surveillance against pathogenic microorganisms, all cells degrade intracellular proteins to produce peptides, which are loaded onto major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, which are expressed on the surface of all cells. Most of these peptides derived from host cells are recognized as self and remain unrecognized by the adaptive immune system. On the other hand, foreign (non-self) peptides can stimulate the proliferation of naive CD8+ T cells, which encode T cell receptors (TCRs) that tightly bind MHC I-peptide complexes. This expanded T cell population can generate effector CD8+ T cells (including cytotoxic T lymphocytes, or CTLs) that can eliminate foreign antigen-tagged cells, as well as memory CD8+ T cells that can be re-expanded if foreign antigen-tagged cells are encountered later in the animal's life.

[0003] Expression of MHC class II molecules is usually restricted to professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells (DCs), and MHC class II molecules are typically loaded with peptides internalized from the extracellular environment. Binding of a complementary TCR from a naive CD4+ T cell to the MHCII-peptide complex in the presence of various factors, including T cell adhesion molecules (CD54, CD48) and costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80, CD86), results in the induction of CD4+ T cell effector cells (e.g., T H 1. T H 2. T H 17, T FH , T reg These effector CD4+ T cells can promote the differentiation of B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells and antigen-specific CD8+ CTLs, thereby helping to induce adaptive immune responses to foreign antigens, including both short-term effector functions and long-term immunological memory. DCs can carry out the process of peptide antigen cross-presentation by delivering exogenously derived antigens (such as peptides or proteins released from pathogens or tumor cells) onto their MHC I molecules, contributing to the generation of immunological memory by providing an alternative route for stimulating the proliferation of naive CD8+ T cells.

[0004] Immunological memory (specifically, antigen-specific B cells / antibodies and antigen-specific CTLs) plays an important role in controlling microbial infections, and has been utilized to develop numerous vaccines to prevent diseases caused by important pathogenic microorganisms. Immunological memory is also known to play an important role in controlling tumorigenesis, but few effective cancer vaccines have been developed.

[0005] Cancer is the second leading cause of morbidity, accounting for nearly one-sixth of all deaths worldwide. Of the 8.8 million cancer deaths in 2015, the most deadly cancers were lung (1.69 million), liver (788,000), colorectal (774,000), stomach (754,000), and breast (571,000) carcinomas. The economic impact of cancer in 2010 was estimated at US$1.16 trillion, and the number of new cases is expected to increase by approximately 70% over the next 20 years (World Health Organization, Cancer Facts, 2017).

[0006] Current therapies for cutaneous melanoma are diverse and largely depend on tumor location and disease stage. The primary treatment for non-metastatic melanoma is surgery to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue. Late-stage melanoma may require treatments including lymph node dissection, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Immune checkpoint blockade strategies, which involve the use of antibodies targeting negative immune regulators such as PD-1 / PD-L1 and CTLA4, have recently revolutionized the treatment of various malignancies, including melanoma (Ribas, A. and Wolchok, JD, (2018) Science, 359:1350-1355). The extraordinary value of checkpoint blockade therapy and the well-known association between its clinical benefits and the patient's adaptive immune response (particularly T cell-based immune responses) to the patient's own cancer antigens have stimulated the search for effective cancer vaccines, vaccine modalities, and cancer vaccine antigens.

[0007] Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are relics of ancestral germline integration of exogenous infectious retroviruses. HERVs belong to a group of endogenous retroelements characterized by the presence of long terminal repeats (LTRs) flanking the viral genome. This group also includes mammalian apparent LTR retrotransposons (MaLRs), collectively known as LTR elements (collectively referred to herein as ERVs to refer to all LTR elements). ERVs comprise a significant proportion (8%) of the mammalian genome and can be grouped into approximately 100 families based on sequence homology. Many ERV sequences encode defective proviruses, which share a prototypical retroviral genome structure consisting of gag, pro, pol, and env genes flanked by LTRs. Some intact ERV ORFs produce retroviral proteins that share characteristics with proteins encoded by exogenous infectious retroviruses, such as HIV-1. Such proteins can act as antigens to induce strong immune responses (Hurst and Magiorkinis, 2015, J. Gen. Virol 96:1207-1218), suggesting that ERV-encoded polypeptides can circumvent T-cell and B-cell receptor selection processes and central and peripheral tolerance. Immune reactivity to ERV products can arise spontaneously in infections and cancer, and ERV products have been implicated as causative agents in several autoimmune diseases (Kassiotis and Stoye, 2016, Nat. Rev. Immunol. 16:207-219).

[0008] Due to the accumulation of mutations and recombination events during evolution, most ERVs have lost functional open reading frames for some or all of their genes, resulting in their loss of their ability to produce infectious virus. However, these ERV elements, like other genes, remain in germline DNA and retain the potential to produce proteins from at least some of their genes. In fact, HERV-encoded proteins have been detected in various human cancers. For example, Rec and Np9, splice variants of the HERV-K env gene, are found only in malignant testicular germ cells and not in healthy cells (Ruprecht et al., 2008, Cell Mol Life Sci 65:3366-3382). Elevated levels of HERV transcripts have also been observed in cancers, such as prostate cancer, compared with healthy tissue (Wang-Johanning, 2003, Cancer 98:187-197; Andersson et al., 1998, Int. J. Oncol 12:309-313). Furthermore, overexpression of HERV-E and HERV-H has been shown to be immunosuppressive, which may also contribute to cancer progression (Mangeney et al., 2001, J. Gen. Virol. 82:2515-2518). However, the actual mechanisms by which HERVs may contribute to cancer progression or pathogenesis remain unclear.

[0009] In addition to deregulating the expression of surrounding host genes, the activity and translocation of ERV regulatory elements to new genomic sites can lead to the generation of novel transcripts, some of which may be oncogenic (Babaian and Mager, Mob. DNA 2016; Lock et al., PNAS 2014; 111:3534-3543).

[0010] A wide range of vaccine modalities are known. One well-described approach involves directly delivering antigenic polypeptides to a subject, aiming to enhance immune responses (including B cell and T cell responses) and stimulate immunological memory. Alternatively, a polynucleotide may be administered to a subject via a vector so that the immunogenic polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide is expressed in vivo. The use of viral vectors, e.g., adenoviral vectors, has been extensively explored for the delivery of antigens in both preventative vaccination and therapeutic treatment strategies for cancer (Wold et al., Current Gene Therapy, 2013, "Adenovirus Vectors for Gene Therapy, Vaccination and Cancer Gene Therapy," 13:421-433). Immunogenic peptides, polypeptides, or polynucleotides encoding them can also be used to load patient-derived antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which can then be injected into the subject as a vaccine to elicit a therapeutic or preventative immune response. An example of this approach is Provenge, the only FDA-approved anti-cancer vaccine currently available.

[0011] Cancer antigens can also be used to generate a variety of non-vaccine therapeutic modalities for the treatment and prevention of cancer. These therapies fall into two distinct classes: 1) antigen-binding biologics and 2) adoptive cell therapy.

[0012] Antigen-binding biologics typically consist of multivalent polypeptides engineered to recognize antigen-modified cancer cells and promote their destruction. The antigen-binding component of these biologics may consist of TCR-based biologics, including, but not limited to, TCRs, high-affinity TCRs, and TCR mimetics, engineered by a variety of technologies (including those based on monoclonal antibody technology). The cytolytic component of these types of multivalent biologics may consist of cytotoxic chemicals, biotoxins, targeting motifs and / or immunostimulatory motifs that facilitate the targeting and activation of immune cells, all of which promote the therapeutic destruction of tumor cells.

[0013] Adoptive cell therapy may be based on a patient's own T cells, which are extracted and stimulated ex vivo with a vaccine antigen preparation (co-cultured with T cells in the presence or absence of other factors, including cellular and acellular components) (Yossef et al., JCI Insight. 2018 Oct;4;3(19) pii:122467. doi:10.1172 / jci.insight.122467). Alternatively, adoptive cell therapy can be based on cells (including patient-derived or non-patient-derived cells) engineered to express antigen-binding polypeptides that recognize cancer antigens. These antigen-binding polypeptides fall into the same classes as those described above for antigen-binding biologics. Thus, lymphocytes (autologous or non-autologous) engineered to express cancer antigen-binding polypeptides can be administered to a patient as adoptive cell therapy to treat their cancer.

[0014] The use of ERV-derived antigens to mount effective immune responses against cancer has shown promising results in murine models of cancer, promoting tumor regression and resulting in more favorable prognosis (Kershaw et al., 2001, Cancer Res. 61:7920-7924; Slansky et al., 2000, Immunity 13:529-538). Accordingly, HERV antigen-centric immunotherapy trials are being considered in humans, although progress has been limited in part by the severe limitation of identified tumor-specific ERV antigens (Sacha et al., 2012, J. Immunol 189:1467-1479).

[0015] WO 2005 / 099750 identifies anchor sequences of existing vaccines against infectious pathogens that share the ability to mount a cross-reactive immune response to the HERV-K Mel tumor antigen and confer protection against melanoma. WO 00 / 06598 relates to the identification of the HERV-AVL3-B tumor-associated gene that is preferentially expressed in melanoma, and methods and products for diagnosing and treating conditions characterized by expression of that gene. WO 2006 / 119527 provides antigenic polypeptides derived from melanoma-associated endogenous retroviruses (MERVs) and their use for the detection and diagnosis of melanoma and for the prognosis of the disease. The use of the antigenic polypeptides as anti-cancer vaccines is also disclosed.

[0016] WO 2007 / 137279 discloses methods and compositions for detecting, preventing and treating HERV-K+ cancers, for example using HERV-K+ binding antibodies to prevent or inhibit cancer cell proliferation. WO 2006 / 103562 discloses a method for treating or preventing cancers in which the immunosuppressive Np9 protein from the env gene of HERV-K is expressed. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising nucleic acids or antibodies capable of inhibiting the activity of the protein, or immunogen or vaccine compositions capable of inducing an immune response against the protein. WO 2007 / 109583 provides compositions and methods for preventing or treating neoplastic disease in a mammalian subject by providing a composition comprising an enriched population of immune cells that react to HERV-E antigens on tumor cells.

[0017] Humer J et al., 2006, Canc. Res., 66:1658-63, identify endogenous retroviral-derived melanoma markers associated with melanoma. There is a need to identify additional HERV-associated antigenic sequences that can be used in the immunotherapy of cancer, particularly melanoma, especially cutaneous and uveal melanoma. Summary of the Invention

[0018] (Summary of the Invention) The present inventors have surprisingly discovered certain RNA transcripts that contain LTR elements and are found at high levels in cutaneous melanoma cells but are undetectable or found at very low levels in normal, healthy tissues (see Example 1). Such transcripts are referred to herein as cancer-specific LTR-element spanning transcripts (CLTs). Furthermore, the present inventors have shown that a subset of the potential polypeptide sequences (i.e., open reading frames (ORFs)) encoded by these CLTs are translated in cancer cells, processed by components of the antigen-processing machinery, and presented on the surface of cells found in tumor tissue in association with class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA class I) molecules (see Example 2). These findings indicate that these polypeptides (referred to herein as CLT antigens) are antigenic in nature. Therefore, cancer cell presentation of this CLT antigen is expected to render these cells susceptible to elimination by T cells bearing cognate T cell receptors (TCRs) for this CLT antigen. CLT antigen-based vaccination methods / regimens that expand T cells bearing these cognate TCRs are expected to elicit immune responses against cancer cells (and tumors containing them), particularly melanoma, especially cutaneous melanoma tumors. Indeed, T cells from melanoma subjects respond to the CLT antigen-derived peptides disclosed herein (see Example 3). We confirmed that CLT antigen-specific T cells are not deleted from the T cell repertoire of normal subjects by central tolerance (see Example 4). Finally, qRT-PCR studies confirmed that CLT is differentially expressed in RNA extracted from melanoma tumor tissue compared with non-melanoma control cell lines (see Example 5).

[0019] The present inventors have also surprisingly discovered that CLTs encoding certain CLT antigens are overexpressed not only in cutaneous melanoma but also in uveal melanoma, and the CLT antigen polypeptide sequences encoded by these CLTs are expected to elicit an immune response against uveal melanoma cells and tumors containing them.

[0020] The CLTs and CLT antigens that are the subject of this invention are not canonical sequences that can be easily derived from known tumor genome sequences found in The Cancer Genome Atlas. The CLTs are transcripts resulting from complex transcription and splicing events driven by transcriptional regulatory sequences of ERV origin. Because these CLTs are expressed at high levels and because the CLT antigen polypeptide sequences are not those of normal human proteins, they are expected to be suitable for therapeutic use in cancer immunotherapy settings, as they will be able to elicit strong and specific immune responses.

[0021] This CLT antigen, discovered in a highly expressed transcript characteristic of tumor cells, was previously unknown to exist in humans and produce a protein product. It can be used in several ways. First, the CLT antigen polypeptides of the present invention can be delivered directly to a subject as a vaccine to elicit a therapeutic or prophylactic immune response against tumor cells. Second, the nucleic acids of the present invention can be codon-optimized to enhance expression of the CLT antigens they encode and can be administered directly as a vaccine to elicit a therapeutic or prophylactic immune response against tumor cells, or alternatively, inserted into a vector for in vivo delivery to produce the encoded protein product within the subject. Third, the polynucleotides and / or polypeptides of the present invention can be used to load patient-derived antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which can then be injected into a subject as a vaccine to elicit a therapeutic or prophylactic immune response against tumor cells. Fourth, the polynucleotides and / or polypeptides of the present invention can be used to stimulate a subject's T cells ex vivo, generating stimulated T cell preparations that can be administered to a subject as a cancer therapy. Fifth, biological molecules such as T cell receptors (TCRs) or TCR mimetics that have been further modified to recognize CLT antigens in complex with MHC I molecules and kill (or promote the killing of) cancer cells may be administered to a subject as a cancer therapy. Sixth, chimeric versions of biological molecules that recognize CLT antigens in complex with MHC I cells may be introduced into T cells (autologous or non-autologous), and the introduced cells may be administered to a subject as a cancer therapy. These and other applications are described in more detail below.

[0022] Therefore, the present invention particularly provides: (a) any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a); The present invention provides an isolated polypeptide (hereinafter referred to as "polypeptide of the invention") comprising a sequence selected from: The present invention also provides nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "nucleic acids of the invention").

[0023] The polypeptides of the invention and the nucleic acids of the invention, as well as related aspects of the invention, are expected to be useful in the field of cancer immunotherapy and prevention, particularly in embodiments in melanoma immunotherapy and prevention, as described in more detail below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For each of Figures 1-14, the top panel shows the extracted MS / MS spectrum of a peptide obtained from a patient tumor sample (with assigned fragment ions), and the bottom panel shows a rendering of the spectrum, displaying the positions of the linear peptide sequence mapped to the fragment ions. [Figure 1] Figure 1: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 9 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-27. [Figure 2] Figure 2: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 10 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-21. [Figure 3] Figure 3: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 11 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-41. [Figure 4] Figure 4: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 12 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-41. [Figure 5] Figure 5: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 13 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-41. [Figure 6] Figure 6: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 14 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-41. [Figure 7] Figure 7: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 15 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-21. [Figure 8] Figure 8: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 16 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-21. [Figure 9]Figure 9: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 17 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-21. [Figure 10] Figure 10: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 18 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-15. [Figure 11] Figure 11: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 19 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-27. [Figure 12] Figure 12: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 20 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-27. [Figure 13] Figure 13: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 21 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-25. [Figure 14] Figure 14: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 22 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-25.

[0025] Each of Figures 15-28 shows an alignment of the native MS / MS spectrum of a peptide obtained from a patient tumor sample to the native spectrum of a synthetic peptide corresponding to the same sequence. [Figure 15] Figure 15: Spectrum of the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 9 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-27. [Figure 16] Figure 16: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 10 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-20. [Figure 17] Figure 17: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 11 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-41. [Figure 18] Figure 18: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 12 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-41. [Figure 19] Figure 19: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 13 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-41. [Figure 20] Figure 20: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 14 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-41. [Figure 21]Figure 21: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 15 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-21. [Figure 22] Figure 22: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 16 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-21. [Figure 23] Figure 23: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 17 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-21. [Figure 24] Figure 24: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 18 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-15. [Figure 25] Figure 25: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 19 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-27. [Figure 26] Figure 26: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 20 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-27. [Figure 27] Figure 27: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 21 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-25. [Figure 28] Figure 28: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 22 obtained from a tumor sample of patient Mel-25. [Figure 29] Figure 29: Spectrum of peptide SEQ ID NO: 15 obtained from tumor sample of patient 2MT3. [Figure 30] Figure 30: Spectrum of peptide of SEQ ID NO: 20 obtained from tumor sample of patient 2MT4. [Figure 31] Figure 31: Spectrum of peptide of SEQ ID NO: 21 obtained from tumor sample of patient 2MT4.

[0026] [Figure 32] FIG. 32 shows the killing of expanded, pentamer-sorted CD8 T cells against CaSki cells transfected with the open reading frame for CLT antigen 6 (SEQ ID NO: 6). [Figure 33] FIG. 33 shows CD8 T cell responses from normal blood donors to an HLA-A *02:01-restricted peptide from CLT antigen 1 (SEQ ID NO: 9). [Figure 34]FIG. 34 shows the CD8 T cell response from a normal blood donor to an HLA-A *03:01-restricted peptide from CLT antigen 1 (SEQ ID NO: 10). [Figure 35] FIG. 35 shows CD8 T cell responses from normal blood donors to the HLA-B *07:02-restricted peptide from CLT antigen 2 (SEQ ID NO: 13). [Figure 36] FIG. 36 shows CD8 T cell responses from normal blood donors to an HLA-A*03:01-restricted peptide from CLT antigen 3 (SEQ ID NO: 15). [Figure 37] FIG. 37 shows CD8 T cell responses from normal blood donors to an HLA-A*03:01-restricted peptide from CLT antigen 5 (SEQ ID NO: 18). [Figure 38] FIG. 38 shows CD8 T cell responses from normal blood donors to an HLA-A*02:01-restricted peptide from CLT antigen 6 (SEQ ID NO: 39). [Figure 39] Panels A to C of Figure 39 show the results of qRT-PCR assays verifying the transcription of CLT encoding CLT antigen 2 (SEQ ID NO: 24), CLT encoding CLT antigen 3 (SEQ ID NO: 25), and CLT encoding CLT antigen 6 (SEQ ID NO: 28) in melanoma cancer cell lines.

[0027] (Array description) SEQ ID NO: 1 is the polypeptide sequence of CLT antigen 1. SEQ ID NO:2 is the polypeptide sequence of CLT antigen 2. SEQ ID NO:3 is the polypeptide sequence of CLT antigen 3. SEQ ID NO: 4 is the polypeptide sequence of CLT antigen 4. SEQ ID NO: 5 is the polypeptide sequence of CLT antigen 5. SEQ ID NO: 6 is the polypeptide sequence of CLT antigen 6. SEQ ID NO: 7 is the polypeptide sequence of CLT antigen 7. SEQ ID NO: 8 is the polypeptide sequence of CLT antigen 8.

[0028] SEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10 are CLT antigen 1-derived peptide sequences. SEQ ID NOs: 11 to 14 are peptide sequences derived from CLT antigen 2. SEQ ID NO: 15 is a CLT antigen 3-derived peptide sequence. SEQ ID NOs: 16 and 17 are CLT antigen 4-derived peptide sequences. SEQ ID NO: 18 is a CLT antigen 5-derived peptide sequence. SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20 are CLT antigen 6-derived peptide sequences. SEQ ID NO: 21 is a CLT antigen 7-derived peptide sequence. SEQ ID NO: 22 is a peptide sequence derived from CLT antigen 8.

[0029] SEQ ID NO: 23 is the cDNA sequence of CLT encoding CLT antigen 1. SEQ ID NO: 24 is the cDNA sequence of CLT encoding CLT antigen 2. SEQ ID NO: 25 is the cDNA sequence of CLT encoding CLT antigen 3. SEQ ID NO: 26 is the cDNA sequence of CLT encoding CLT antigen 4. SEQ ID NO: 27 is the cDNA sequence of CLT encoding CLT antigen 5. SEQ ID NO: 28 is the cDNA sequence of CLT encoding CLT antigen 6. SEQ ID NO: 29 is the cDNA sequence of CLT encoding CLT antigen 7. SEQ ID NO: 30 is the cDNA sequence of CLT encoding CLT antigen 8.

[0030] SEQ ID NO: 31 is the cDNA sequence encoding CLT antigen 1. SEQ ID NO: 32 is the cDNA sequence encoding CLT antigen 2. SEQ ID NO: 33 is the cDNA sequence encoding CLT antigen 3. SEQ ID NO: 34 is the cDNA sequence encoding CLT antigen 4. SEQ ID NO: 35 is the cDNA sequence encoding CLT antigen 5. SEQ ID NO: 36 is the cDNA sequence encoding CLT antigen 6. SEQ ID NO: 37 is the cDNA sequence encoding CLT antigen 7. SEQ ID NO: 38 is the cDNA sequence encoding CLT antigen 8. SEQ ID NO: 39 is a CLT antigen 6-derived peptide sequence. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] (Detailed Description of the Invention) (polypeptide) The terms "protein," "polypeptide," and "peptide" are used interchangeably herein to refer to any chain of peptide-linked amino acids, regardless of length, co-translational, or post-translational modifications.

[0032] The term "amino acid" refers to any one of naturally occurring amino acids, amino acid analogs, and amino acid mimetics that function in a manner similar to naturally occurring amino acids. Naturally occurring amino acids are the 20 L-amino acids encoded by the genetic code, as well as amino acids that have been later modified, such as hydroxyproline, γ-carboxyglutamate, and O-phosphoserine. The term "amino acid analog" refers to a compound that has the same basic chemical structure as a naturally occurring amino acid, i.e., an α-carbon bonded to a hydrogen, a carboxyl group, an amino group, and an R group, but has a modified R group or a modified peptide backbone compared to a naturally occurring amino acid. Examples include homoserine, norleucine, methionine sulfoxide, methionine methylsulfonium, and norleucine. An amino acid mimetic refers to a chemical compound that has a structure different from the general chemical structure of an amino acid but functions in a manner similar to a naturally occurring amino acid. Preferably, the amino acid is a naturally occurring amino acid or an amino acid analog, particularly a naturally occurring amino acid, and further, one of the 20 L-amino acids encoded by the genetic code.

[0033] Amino acids may be referred to herein by either their commonly known three letter symbols or by the one-letter symbols recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission. Nucleotides may also be referred to by their commonly accepted single-letter codes.

[0034] Thus, the present invention provides: (a) any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a).

[0035] The present invention also provides: (a) any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 with the first methionine residue removed; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a).

[0036] Generally, variants of the polypeptide sequences of the invention include sequences that have a high degree of sequence identity thereto, for example, variants preferably have at least about 80% identity, more preferably at least about 85% identity, and most preferably at least about 90% identity (such as at least about 95%, at least about 98%, or at least about 99%) over the entire length of the relevant reference sequence.

[0037] Suitably, the variant is an immunogenic variant. A variant is considered to be immunogenic if it elicits a response that is at least 20%, preferably at least 50%, and particularly at least 75% (e.g., at least 90%) of the activity of the reference sequence (i.e., the sequence of which the variant is a variant). This response can be measured, for example, in an in vitro restimulation assay of PBMCs or whole blood using the polypeptide as antigen (e.g., restimulation for a period of from several hours up to 1 year, up to 6 months, e.g., 1 day to 1 month, or 1-2 weeks), by stimulation of cells via lymphocyte proliferation (e.g., T cell proliferation), production of cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ) in the culture supernatant (measured, for example, by ELISA), or characterization of the T cell response by intracellular and extracellular staining (e.g., using antibodies specific for immune markers such as CD3, CD4, CD8, IL2, TNF-α, IFNγ, type 1 IFN, CD40L, CD69, etc.) followed by analysis in a flow cytometer.

[0038] A variant may be, for example, a conservatively modified variant. "Conservatively modified variants" are those in which the alteration results in the substitution of an amino acid with a functionally similar amino acid, or the substitution, deletion, or addition of a residue that does not substantially affect the biological function of the variant. Typically, the biological function of such a variant will be to induce an immune response against melanoma, e.g., cutaneous melanoma cancer antigens. Conservative substitution tables providing functionally similar amino acids are well known in the art. Variants can include homologs of the polypeptide found in other species.

[0039] Variants of the polypeptides of the invention may contain multiple substitutions, e.g., conservative substitutions (e.g., 1 to 25, 1 to 10, etc., particularly 1 to 5, and particularly 1 amino acid residue may be altered) compared to a reference sequence. The number of substitutions, e.g., the number of conservative substitutions, may be up to 20%, for example up to 10%, for example up to 5%, for example up to 1% of the number of residues in the reference sequence. Generally, conservative substitutions will fall within one of the amino acid classes identified below, although other substitutions are possible in some cases as long as they do not substantially affect the immunogenic properties of the antigen. The following eight groups each contain amino acids that are normally conservative substitutions for one another:

[0040] 1) Alanine (A), Glycine (G); 2) aspartic acid (D), glutamic acid (E); 3) asparagine (N), glutamine (Q); 4) arginine (R), lysine (K); 5) isoleucine (I), leucine (L), methionine (M), valine (V); 6) phenylalanine (F), tyrosine (Y), tryptophan (W); 7) serine (S), threonine (T); and 8) Cysteine ​​(C), Methionine (M) (See, e.g., Creighton, Proteins 1984).

[0041] Preferably, such substitutions do not alter the immunological structure of the epitope (e.g., they do not occur within the epitope region that maps to the primary sequence) and therefore do not significantly affect the immunogenic properties of the antigen.

[0042] Polypeptide variants also include those in which additional amino acids are inserted relative to a reference sequence; for example, such insertions may occur at positions 1 to 10 (e.g., positions 1 to 5, preferably positions 1 or 2, particularly position 1), and may include, for example, the addition of 50 or fewer amino acids at each position (e.g., 20 or fewer, particularly 10 or fewer, or even 5 or fewer). Preferably, such insertions do not occur in epitope regions and therefore do not significantly affect the immunogenic properties of the antigen. One example of an insertion includes a short stretch (e.g., 2 to 6 residues) of histidine residues to aid in expression and / or purification of the antigen of interest.

[0043] Polypeptide variants include those in which amino acids have been deleted compared to a reference sequence, for example, such deletions may occur at positions 1 to 10 (e.g., positions 1 to 5, preferably 1 or 2, particularly 1), and may include, for example, deletion of 50 or fewer amino acids at each position (e.g., 20 or fewer, particularly 10 or fewer, or even 5 or fewer). Preferably, such deletions do not occur in epitope regions and therefore do not significantly affect the immunogenic properties of the antigen.

[0044] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a particular protein variant may include substitutions, deletions, and additions (or any combination thereof). For example, substitutions / deletions / additions may enhance binding to a desired patient's HLA molecule (or have a neutral effect), or may enhance immunogenicity (or keep immunogenicity unchanged).

[0045] Depending on the length of the CLT antigen, an immunogenic fragment of the invention will typically comprise at least 9 (e.g. at least 9 or 10) consecutive amino acids, at least 12 (e.g. at least 15 or at least 20) consecutive amino acids, etc., particularly at least 50 consecutive amino acids, at least 100 (e.g. at least 200) consecutive amino acids, etc. from the full-length polypeptide sequence. Suitably, the immunogenic fragment will be at least 10%, such as at least 20%, for example at least 50%, for example at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the full-length polypeptide sequence.

[0046] Immunogenic fragments typically comprise at least one epitope, including B-cell and T-cell epitopes, and preferably, immunogenic fragments comprise at least one T-cell epitope, such as a CD4+ or CD8+ T-cell epitope.

[0047] T cell epitopes are short, contiguous stretches of amino acids that are recognized by T cells (e.g., CD4+ or CD8+ T cells) when bound to an HLA molecule. Identification of T cell epitopes may be achieved by epitope mapping experiments well known to those skilled in the art (see, e.g., Paul, Fundamental Immunology, 3rd ed., 243-247 (1993); Beißbarth et al., 2005, Bioinformatics, 21(Suppl 1):i29-i37).

[0048] As a result of the crucial involvement of T cell responses in cancer, it is quite clear that fragments of the full-length polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8 that contain at least one T cell epitope may be immunogenic and may contribute to immune protection.

[0049] It will be appreciated that in diverse, outbred populations, such as humans, different HLA types mean that a particular epitope will not be recognized by all members of the population. Consequently, to maximize the level of recognition and magnitude of the immune response to a given polypeptide, it is generally desirable for an immunogenic fragment to include multiple epitopes from the full-length sequence (preferably all epitopes within the CLT antigen).

[0050] Particular fragments of the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 1-8 that may be useful include those that contain at least one CD8+ T cell epitope, preferably at least two CD8+ T cell epitopes, or even all CD8+ T cell epitopes (particularly those associated with multiple HLA class I alleles, e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, or more alleles). Particular fragments of the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 1-8 that may be useful include those that contain at least one CD4+ T cell epitope, preferably at least two CD4+ T cell epitopes, or even all CD4+ T cell epitopes (particularly those associated with multiple HLA class II alleles, e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, or more alleles). However, one skilled in the art of vaccine design will be able to combine exogenous CD4+ T cell epitopes with the CD8+ T cell epitopes of the invention to achieve a desired response to the CD8+ T cell epitopes of the invention.

[0051] When a fragment of a full-length polypeptide is used, such a fragment is considered to be immunogenic if it elicits a response that is at least 20%, preferably at least 50%, and particularly at least 75% (e.g., at least 90%) of the activity of the reference sequence (i.e., the sequence of which it is a fragment), as measured, for example, by activity in an in vitro restimulation assay of PBMCs or whole blood using the polypeptide as antigen (e.g., restimulation over a period of from several hours up to 1 year, up to 6 months, e.g., 1 day to 1 month, or 1-2 weeks), stimulation of cells via lymphocyte proliferation (e.g., T cell proliferation), production of cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ) in the culture supernatant (measured, for example, by ELISA), or characterization of T cell responses by intracellular and extracellular staining (e.g., using antibodies specific for immune markers such as CD3, CD4, CD8, IL2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, type 1 IFN, CD40L, CD69, etc.) followed by analysis in a flow cytometer.

[0052] In some cases, multiple fragments of a full-length polypeptide (which may or may not overlap and may or may not span the entire full-length sequence) may be used to obtain an equivalent biological response to the full-length sequence itself, for example, at least two (e.g., three, four, or five) of the immunogenic fragments described above combined to provide at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, or even at least 90% of the activity of the reference sequence in an in vitro restimulation assay (e.g., T cell proliferation and / or IFN-γ production assay) of PBMCs or whole blood.

[0053] Examples of immunogenic fragments of the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 1-8, and thus examples of peptides of the present invention, include polypeptides comprising or consisting of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 9-22 and 39. The sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 9-22 were confirmed to bind to HLA class I molecules in immunopeptidome analysis (see Example 2). The sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 39 was predicted to bind to HLA class I molecules by NetMHC software and was used in immunological validation assays (see Example 4).

[0054] (nucleic acid) The present invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the present invention (referred to as "nucleic acids of the present invention"). For example, the nucleic acids of the present invention comprise or consist of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 23 to 30 or 31 to 38.

[0055] The terms "nucleic acid" and "polynucleotide" are used interchangeably herein and refer to polymeric macromolecules made from nucleotide monomers, particularly deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide monomers. The terms encompass nucleic acids containing known nucleotide analogs or modified backbone residues or linkages, both naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring, that have similar properties to the reference nucleic acid, are intended to be metabolized in a similar manner to the reference nucleotide, or have extended half-life in the system. Examples of such analogs include, but are not limited to, phosphorothioates, phosphoramidates, methyl phosphonates, chiral-methyl phosphonates, 2-O-methyl ribonucleotides, and peptide nucleic acids (PNAs). Preferably, the term "nucleic acid" refers to a naturally occurring polymer of deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide monomers. Preferably, the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention are recombinant. Recombinant means that the nucleic acid molecule is the product of at least one cloning, restriction, or ligation step, or other manipulation that results in a nucleic acid molecule that is distinct from a nucleic acid molecule found in nature (e.g., in the case of cDNA). In one embodiment, the nucleic acid of the invention is an artificial nucleic acid sequence (e.g., a cDNA sequence or a nucleic acid sequence that contains non-natural codon usage). In one embodiment, the nucleic acid of the invention is DNA. Alternatively, the nucleic acid of the invention is RNA.

[0056] DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleotide) refer to nucleic acid molecules having a sugar backbone that is a deoxyribosyl moiety and a ribosyl moiety, respectively. The sugar moiety may be linked to one of the four natural bases (adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T) in DNA, and adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and uracil (U) in RNA). As used herein, a "corresponding RNA" is an RNA having the same sequence as a reference DNA, except that thymine (T) in the DNA is replaced with uracil (U) in the RNA. The sugar moiety may also be linked to an unnatural base, such as inosine, xanthosine, 7-methylguanosine, dihydrouridine, and 5-methylcytidine. The natural phosphodiester linkage between the sugar (deoxyribosyl / ribosyl) moieties may optionally be replaced with a phosphorothioate linkage. Preferably, the nucleic acids of the present invention are comprised of naturally occurring bases attached to a deoxyribosyl or ribosyl sugar backbone with phosphodiester linkages between the sugar moieties.

[0057] In one embodiment, the nucleic acid of the invention is DNA. For example, the nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 23-30 or 31-38. Also provided are nucleic acids comprising or consisting of variants of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 23-30 or 31-38, which variants encode the same amino acid sequence but have different nucleic acids based on the degeneracy of the genetic code.

[0058] Thus, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, a large number of different but functionally identical nucleic acids can encode any given polypeptide. For example, the codons GCA, GCC, GCG, and GCU all encode the amino acid alanine. Therefore, at every position where alanine is specified by a codon, that codon can be altered to any of the corresponding codons without altering the encoded polypeptide. Such nucleic acid variations result in "silent" (sometimes referred to as "degenerate" or "synonymous") variations, which are a type of conservatively modified variation. Every nucleic acid sequence disclosed herein that encodes a polypeptide also permits every possible silent variation of the nucleic acid. Those skilled in the art will recognize that every codon within a nucleic acid (except AUG, which is usually the only codon for methionine, and UGG, which is usually the only codon for tryptophan) can be altered to produce a functionally identical molecule. Accordingly, each silent variation of a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide is implicit in each described sequence and is provided as an aspect of the invention.

[0059] Degenerate codon substitutions may also be achieved by generating sequences in which the third position of one or more (or all) selected codons is substituted with mixed base and / or deoxyinosine residues (Batzer et al., 1991, Nucleic Acid Res. 19:5081; Ohtsuka et al., 1985, J. Biol. Chem. 260:2605-2608; Rossolini et al., 1994, Mol. Cell. Probes 8:91-98).

[0060] The nucleic acid of the present invention, which comprises or consists of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 23 to 30 or 31 to 38, can contain many silent mutations (for example, 1 to 50, 1 to 25, etc., particularly 1 to 5, or even 1 codon may be modified) compared to the reference sequence.

[0061] As described above, the nucleic acid of the present invention may comprise or consist of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 31 to 38 or variants thereof, excluding the first codon for methionine (ie, ATG or AUG).

[0062] In one embodiment, the nucleic acids of the invention are RNA. The RNA sequences provided correspond to the DNA sequences provided herein, but have a ribonucleotide backbone instead of a deoxyribonucleotide backbone, and side chain bases that are uracil (U) instead of thymine (T).

[0063] Thus, the nucleic acids of the present invention may comprise or consist of the RNA equivalent of a cDNA sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 23-30 or 31-38, and may contain a number of silent mutations (e.g., 1-50, 1-25, etc., particularly 1-5, or even a single codon may be altered) compared to the reference sequence. By "RNA equivalent" is meant an RNA sequence that contains the same genetic information as the reference cDNA sequence (i.e., has a ribonucleotide backbone instead of a deoxyribonucleotide backbone, and contains the same codons with uracil (U) instead of thymine (T) as the side chain base).

[0064] The present invention also includes sequences complementary to the above cDNA and RNA sequences. In one embodiment, the nucleic acids of the invention are codon optimized for expression in human host cells. The nucleic acids of the present invention can be transcribed and translated into the polypeptides of the present invention in the case of DNA nucleic acids, or can be translated into the polypeptides of the present invention in the case of RNA nucleic acids.

[0065] (Polypeptides and Nucleic Acids) Preferably, the polypeptides and nucleic acids used in the present invention are isolated. An "isolated" polypeptide or nucleic acid is one that has been removed from its original environment. For example, a naturally occurring polypeptide or nucleic acid is isolated if it is separated from some or all of the coexisting materials in the natural system. A nucleic acid is considered isolated, for example, if it is cloned into a vector that is not part of its natural environment.

[0066] "Naturally occurring" when used in reference to a polypeptide or nucleic acid sequence means a sequence that is found in nature and has not been synthetically modified. "Artificial," when used in reference to a polypeptide or nucleic acid sequence, means a sequence not found in nature, including, for example, a synthetic modification of a naturally occurring sequence or a non-naturally occurring sequence.

[0067] The term "heterologous," when used in reference to the relationship of one nucleic acid or polypeptide to another, indicates that the two or more sequences are not found in the same relationship to each other in nature. A "heterologous" sequence can also mean a sequence that is not isolated from, derived from, or based on a naturally occurring nucleic acid or polypeptide sequence found in a host organism.

[0068] As noted above, a polypeptide variant preferably has at least about 80% identity, more preferably at least about 85% identity, and most preferably at least about 90% identity (e.g., at least about 95%, at least about 98%, or at least about 99%) over the entire length of the relevant reference sequence.

[0069] For purposes of comparing two closely related polypeptide or polynucleotide sequences, the "percent sequence identity" between a first sequence and a second sequence may be calculated. A polypeptide sequence is said to be identical or equal to another polypeptide sequence if it has 100% sequence identity over its entire length. Residues in a sequence are numbered from left to right, i.e., from the N-terminus to the C-terminus of the polypeptide. The term "identical" or percent "identity," in the context of two or more polypeptide sequences, refers to two or more sequences or subsequences that are identical or have a specified percentage of identical amino acid residues (i.e., 70% identity within a specified region, optionally 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or 99% identity within a specified region) when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence over the comparison window. Preferably, the comparison is performed over a window corresponding to the entire length of the reference sequence.

[0070] In sequence comparison, one sequence serves as a reference sequence to which test sequences are compared. When using a sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are entered into a computer, subsequence coordinates are designated, if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated. Default program parameters can be used, or alternative parameters can be designated. The sequence comparison algorithm then calculates the percentage sequence identity of the test sequence relative to the reference sequence, based on the program parameters.

[0071] As used herein, a "comparison window" refers to a segment within which one sequence and a reference sequence of the same number of contiguous positions can be compared, after the two sequences are optimally aligned. Sequence alignment methods for comparison are well known in the art. Optimal sequence alignment for comparison can be performed, for example, by the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman, 1981, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482, by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443, by the similarity search method of Pearson and Lipman, 1988, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444, by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, WI), or by manual alignment and visual inspection (see, e.g., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel et al., eds., 1995 Supplement).

[0072] One useful algorithm is PILEUP. PILEUP uses progressive, pairwise alignments to create a multiple sequence alignment from a group of related sequences, showing their relationship and percent sequence identity. It also plots a tree or dendrogram showing the clustering relationships used to create the alignment. PILEUP uses a simplification of the progressive alignment method of Feng and Doolittle (1987, J. Mol. Evol. 35:351-360). The method used is similar to that described by Higgins and Sharp (1989, CABIOS 5:151-153). This program can align up to 300 sequences, each with a maximum length of 5,000 nucleotides or amino acids. This multiple sequence alignment procedure first performs a pairwise alignment of the two most similar sequences, creating a cluster of two aligned sequences. This cluster is then aligned to the most related sequence or cluster of aligned sequences. Two sequence clusters are aligned by a simple extension of the pairwise alignment of two individual sequences. The final alignment is achieved by a series of progressive pairwise alignments. The program is run by specifying specific sequences and their amino acid coordinates for the sequence comparison region and by specifying the program parameters. PILEUP is used to compare a reference sequence to another test sequence to determine the percent sequence identity relationship using the following parameters: default gap weight (3.00), default gap length weight (0.10), and weighted end gaps. PILEUP is available from the GCG sequence analysis software package, e.g., version 7.0 (Devereaux et al., 1984, Nuc. Acids Res. 12:387-395).

[0073] Another example of an algorithm suitable for determining percent sequence identity and sequence similarity is the BLAST and BLAST 2.0 algorithms, described in Altschul et al., 1977, Nuc. Acids Res. 25:3389-3402, and Altschul et al., 1990, J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410, respectively. Software for performing BLAST analysis is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (website at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov / ). This algorithm involves first identifying high-scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short word lengths W in the query sequence that, when aligned with words of the same length in database sequences, match or meet some positive threshold score T. T refers to the neighborhood word score threshold (Altschul et al., supra). These initial neighborhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs containing them. The word hits are extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Cumulative scores are calculated using the parameters M (reward score for a pair of matching residues; always >0) and N (penalty score for mismatching residues; always <0) for nucleotide sequences. For amino acid sequences, a scoring matrix is ​​used to calculate the cumulative score. Extension of the word hits in each direction stops when: the cumulative alignment score falls by X amount from its maximum achieved value; the cumulative score falls below 0 due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached. For amino acid sequences, the BLASTP program uses as default a word length of 3 and an expectation (E) of 10, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff and Henikoff, 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915) of alignment (B) 50, expectation (E) 10, M=5, N=-4, and a comparison of both strands.

[0074] The BLAST algorithm also performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences (see, e.g., Karlin and Altschul, 1993, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5787). One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide sequences or two amino acid sequences would occur by chance.

[0075] A "difference" between sequences refers to the insertion, deletion, or substitution of one residue at a position in a second sequence compared to a first sequence. Two sequences can contain one, two, or more such differences. An insertion, deletion, or substitution in a second sequence that is otherwise identical to a first sequence (100% sequence identity) results in a decrease in the percent sequence identity. For example, if the identical sequences are 9 residues long, one substitution in the second sequence would result in 88.9% sequence identity. If the identical sequences are 17 amino acid residues long, two substitutions in the second sequence would result in 88.2% sequence identity.

[0076] Alternatively, for purposes of comparing a first reference sequence with a second comparison sequence, one may ascertain the number of additions, substitutions, and / or deletions made to the first sequence to generate the second sequence. An addition is the addition of one residue to the first sequence (including additions at either end of the first sequence). A substitution is the replacement of one residue in the first sequence with a different residue. A deletion is the removal of one residue from the first sequence (including deletions at either end of the first sequence).

[0077] (Production of Polypeptides of the Invention) Polypeptides of the invention can be obtained and manipulated using techniques such as those disclosed in Green and Sambrook, 2012, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 4th ed., Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press. In particular, artificial gene synthesis techniques can be used to generate polynucleotides (Nambiar et al., 1984, Science, 223:1299-1301; Sakamar and Khorana, 1988, Nucl. Acids Res., 14:6361-6372; Wells et al., 1985, Gene, 34:315-323; and Grundstrom et al., 1985, Nucl. Acids Res., 13:3305-3316), which can then be expressed in a suitable organism to produce the polypeptide. Genes encoding the polypeptides of the invention can be synthetically produced, for example, by solid-phase DNA synthesis. Entire genes may be synthesized de novo, without the need for precursor template DNA. To obtain the desired oligonucleotide, building blocks are sequentially linked to a growing oligonucleotide chain in the order required by the product sequence. Once chain assembly is complete, the product is released from the solid phase into solution, deprotected, and recovered. The product can be isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to obtain the desired oligonucleotide in high purity (Verma and Eckstein, 1998, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 67:99-134). These relatively short segments are easily assembled into longer DNA molecules using various gene amplification methods (Methods Mol Biol., 2012;834:93-109), making them suitable for use in numerous recombinant DNA-based expression systems. In the context of the present invention, those skilled in the art will understand that polynucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptide antigens described herein can be readily used in a variety of vaccine production systems, including, for example, viral vectors.

[0078] For purposes of producing a polypeptide of the invention in a microbial host (e.g., bacterial or fungal), a nucleic acid of the invention will include appropriate regulatory and control sequences (including promoters, termination signals, etc.) and sequences facilitating polypeptide secretion suitable for protein production in the host. Similarly, a polypeptide of the invention may be produced by transfecting a culture of eukaryotic cells (e.g., Chinese hamster ovary cells or Drosophila S2 cells) with a nucleic acid of the invention in combination with appropriate regulatory and control sequences (including promoters, termination signals, etc.) and sequences facilitating polypeptide secretion suitable for protein production in those cells.

[0079] Improved isolation of polypeptides of the invention produced by recombinant techniques may optionally be facilitated by the addition of a stretch of histidine residues towards one end of the polypeptide, commonly known as a His tag. Polypeptides may also be prepared synthetically.

[0080] (vector) In additional embodiments, a genetic construct comprising one or more nucleic acids of the invention is introduced into cells in vivo, whereupon a polypeptide of the invention is produced in vivo to elicit an immune response. The nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) can be present in any of a variety of delivery systems known to those skilled in the art, including nucleic acid expression systems, bacteria, and some viral expression systems. Numerous gene delivery techniques are well known in the art, such as those described in Rolland, 1998, Crit. Rev. Therap. Drug Carrier Systems 15:143-198, and references cited therein. Some of these approaches are outlined below for illustrative purposes.

[0081] Accordingly, there are provided vectors (also referred to herein as "DNA expression constructs" or "constructs") comprising the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. Preferably, the vector contains a nucleic acid encoding suitable regulatory elements (such as a suitable promoter and termination signal) to allow transcription of a translationally active RNA molecule in a human host cell. A "translationally active RNA molecule" is an RNA molecule that can be translated into a protein by the translational apparatus of a human cell. Accordingly, there is provided a vector comprising a nucleic acid of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "the vector of the invention").

[0082] In particular, the vector may be a viral vector. The viral vector may be an adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV) (e.g., AAV types 5 and 2), alphavirus (e.g., Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), Sindbis virus (SIN), Semliki Forest virus (SFV)), herpesvirus, arenavirus (e.g., lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)), measles virus, poxvirus (e.g., modified vaccinia virus (MVA)), paramyxovirus, lentivirus, or rhabdovirus (e.g., vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)). That is, the vector may be derived from any of the above viruses. Adenovirus is particularly suitable for use as a gene transfer vector due to its medium genome size, ease of manipulation, high titer, wide target cell range, and high infectivity. Both ends of the viral genome contain 100-200 base pair inverted repeats (ITRs), which are cis-receptors required for viral DNA replication and packaging. The early (E) and late (L) regions of the genome contain distinct transcription units, which are separated by the onset of viral DNA replication. The E1 region (E1A and E1B) encodes proteins involved in regulating the transcription of the viral genome and several cellular genes. Expression of the E2 region (E2A and E2B) results in the synthesis of proteins for viral DNA replication. These proteins are involved in DNA replication, late gene expression, and host cell shutoff (Renan, 1990). The products of the late genes, including most of the viral capsid proteins, are expressed only after significant processing of a single primary transcript driven by the major late promoter (MLP). The MLP is particularly efficient during the late stages of infection, and all mRNAs transcribed from this promoter contain a 5'-tripartite leader (TPL) sequence, making them preferred for translation. Replication-deficient adenoviruses, which are made from viral genomes with one or more early genes deleted, are particularly useful because they have limited replication within the vaccinated host, reducing the potential for pathogenic spread and the potential for pathogenic exposure of the vaccinated host.

[0083] (Other Polynucleotide Delivery) In certain embodiments of the present invention, an expression construct containing one or more polynucleotide sequences may simply consist of a naked recombinant DNA plasmid. See Ulmer et al., 1993, Science 259:1745-1749, and its review in Cohen, 1993, Science 259:1691-1692. Introduction of the construct can be achieved, for example, by any method that physically or chemically permeabilizes the cell membrane. This is particularly applicable to in vitro introduction, but is equally applicable to in vivo use. It is contemplated that DNA encoding a gene of interest may also be introduced in a similar manner in vivo to express the gene product. Numerous delivery systems have been used to deliver DNA molecules to animal models and humans. Several products based on this technology have been approved for use in animals, and others are in Phase II and III clinical trials in humans.

[0084] (RNA delivery) In other embodiments of the present invention, expression constructs comprising one or more polynucleotide sequences may consist of naked recombinant DNA-derived RNA molecules (Ulmer et al., 2012, Vaccine 30:4414-4418). For DNA-based expression constructs, various methods can be used to introduce RNA molecules into cells in vitro or in vivo. RNA-based constructs can be designed to mimic simple messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, such that the introduced biological molecule is directly translated by the host cell's translational machinery to produce its encoded polypeptide in the cell into which it is introduced. Alternatively, RNA molecules can be designed in a manner that allows them to self-amplify in the cell into which they are introduced by incorporating a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase into its structural gene. This type of RNA molecule, known as a self-amplifying mRNA (SAM™) molecule (Geall et al., 2012, PNAS 109:14604-14609), shares properties with some RNA-based viral vectors. Either mRNA-based RNA or SAM™ RNA can be further modified (e.g., by altering their sequence or by using modified nucleotides) to enhance stability and translation (Schlake et al., RNA Biology 9:1319-1330), and both types of RNA may be formulated (e.g., into emulsions (Brito et al., Molecular Therapy 2014 22:2118-2129) or lipid nanoparticles (Kranz et al., 2006, Nature 534:396-401)) to promote stability and / or cell entry in vitro or in vivo. Myriad formulations of modified (and unmodified) RNA have been tested as vaccines in animal models and humans, and a number of RNA-based vaccines are in ongoing clinical trials.

[0085] (Pharmaceutical composition) The polypeptides, nucleic acids and vectors of the invention may be formulated for delivery in pharmaceutical compositions, such as immunogenic and vaccine compositions (all hereinafter "compositions of the invention"). A composition of the invention suitably comprises a polypeptide, nucleic acid or vector of the invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Thus, in one embodiment there is provided an immunogenic pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide, nucleic acid or vector of the invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

[0086] In another embodiment, there is provided a vaccine composition comprising a polypeptide, nucleic acid, or vector of the invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The preparation of pharmaceutical compositions is generally described, for example, in "Vaccine Design (the subunit and adjuvant approach)," edited by Powell and Newman, 1995. The compositions of the invention may also contain other compounds, which may be biologically active or inactive. Preferably, the compositions of the invention are sterile compositions suitable for parenteral administration.

[0087] In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are provided which comprise one or more (eg, one) polypeptides of the invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, compositions of the invention are provided comprising one or more (e.g., one) nucleic acids of the invention or one or more (e.g., one) vectors of the invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

[0088] In one embodiment, a composition of the invention can comprise one or more (e.g., one) polynucleotide components and one or more (e.g., one) polypeptide components. Alternatively, the composition can comprise one or more (e.g., one) vectors and one or more (e.g., one) polypeptide components. Alternatively, the composition can comprise one or more (e.g., one) vectors and one or more (e.g., one) polynucleotide components. Such compositions may be provided to enhance an immune response.

[0089] (Pharmaceutically acceptable salts) It will be apparent that the compositions of the present invention can include pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the nucleic acids or polypeptides provided herein. Such salts can be prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic bases, including organic bases (e.g., salts of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, and basic amino acids) and inorganic bases (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, calcium, and magnesium salts).

[0090] Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers Many pharmaceutically acceptable carriers known to those skilled in the art can be used in the compositions of the present invention, and the optimal type of carrier to be used will vary depending on the mode of administration. The compositions of the present invention can be formulated for any suitable mode of administration, including, for example, parenteral, topical, oral, nasal, intravenous, intracranial, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular administration, preferably parenteral, e.g., intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intravenous administration. For parenteral administration, the carrier preferably contains water and may contain a buffer for adjusting pH, a stabilizer (e.g., surfactants and amino acids), and an agent for adjusting tonicity (e.g., salts and sugars). If the composition is to be provided in a lyophilized form for dilution at the time of use, the formulation may contain a lyoprotectant, e.g., a sugar such as trehalose. For oral administration, any of the above carriers or solid carriers, such as mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharin, talcum, cellulose, glucose, sucrose, and magnesium carbonate, can be used.

[0091] Thus, compositions of the invention can include a buffer (e.g., neutral buffered saline or phosphate buffered saline), a carbohydrate (e.g., glucose, mannose, sucrose, or dextran), mannitol, a protein, a polypeptide, or an amino acid such as glycine, an antioxidant, a bacteriostat, a chelating agent such as EDTA or glutathione, a solute that renders the formulation isotonic, hypotonic, or weakly hypertonic with the blood of the recipient, a suspending agent, a viscosity increasing agent, and / or a preservative. Alternatively, compositions of the invention may be formulated as a lyophilizate.

[0092] (immunostimulant) The compositions of the invention may also include one or more immunostimulants. An immunostimulant is any substance that enhances or potentiates the immune response (antibody-mediated and / or cell-mediated) to an exogenous antigen. Immunostimulants are often referred to as adjuvants in the context of vaccine formulations, and examples include aluminum salts such as aluminum hydroxide gel (alum) or aluminum phosphate, saponins such as QS21, immunostimulatory oligonucleotides such as CPG, oil-in-water emulsions (e.g., when the oil is squalene), aminoalkyl glucosaminide 4-phosphate, lipopolysaccharides or derivatives thereof (e.g., 3-De-O-acylated monophosphoryl lipid A (3D-MPL®) and other TLR4, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 ligands, IL-12, and interleukin-12. In view of the above, the one or more immunostimulants of the compositions of the present invention are preferably selected from aluminum salts, saponins, immunostimulatory oligonucleotides, oil-in-water emulsions, aminoalkyl glucosaminide 4-phosphate, lipopolysaccharides and their derivatives, and other TLR4, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 ligands. The immunostimulant can also include monoclonal antibodies that specifically interact with other immune components, such as monoclonal antibodies that block the interaction of immune checkpoint receptors, including PD-1 and CTLA4.

[0093] In the case of recombinant nucleic acid delivery methods (eg, DNA, RNA, viral vectors), the gene encoding the protein-based immunostimulant may conveniently be delivered along with the gene encoding the polypeptide of the invention.

[0094] (sustained release) The compositions described herein can be administered as part of a sustained release formulation (i.e., a formulation such as a capsule (e.g., comprised of a polysaccharide), sponge, patch, or gel) that provides a sustained / sustained release of the compound after administration.

[0095] (Storage and packaging) The compositions of the present invention may be provided in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, such as sealed ampoules or vials. Such containers are preferably hermetically sealed to maintain the sterility of the formulation until use. The formulation may generally be stored as a suspension, solution, or emulsion in an oily or aqueous vehicle. Alternatively, the compositions of the present invention may be stored in a lyophilized state, requiring only the addition of a sterile liquid carrier (such as water for injection or saline) immediately prior to use.

[0096] (Dosage) The amount of nucleic acid, polypeptide, or vector in each composition of the invention may be formulated in such a way as to obtain a suitable dosage for therapeutic or prophylactic use. Factors such as solubility, bioavailability, biological half-life, route of administration, product shelf life, and other pharmacological considerations will be taken into account by those skilled in the art when preparing such compositions, and various dosages and treatment regimens may be desirable.

[0097] Typically, compositions containing a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount deliver about 0.1 μg to about 1000 μg of a polypeptide of the invention per administration, more typically about 2.5 μg to about 100 μg of polypeptide per administration. When delivered in the form of short synthetic long-chain peptides, dosages may range from 1 to 200 μg / peptide / dose. For polynucleotide compositions, these typically deliver about 10 μg to about 20 mg of a nucleic acid of the invention per administration, more typically about 0.1 mg to about 10 mg of a nucleic acid of the invention per administration.

[0098] (Diseases to be treated or prevented) As described elsewhere in the specification, SEQ ID NOs: 1-8 are polypeptide sequences corresponding to CLT antigens that are overexpressed in cutaneous melanoma. In one embodiment, the invention provides a polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition of the invention for use in medicine.

[0099] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of raising an immune response in a human, comprising administering to said human a polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition of the invention. The invention also provides a polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition of the invention for use in raising an immune response in a human. There is also provided the use of a polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition of the invention for the manufacture of a medicament for use in raising an immune response in a human.

[0100] Preferably, the immune response is raised against cancerous tumors expressing a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of their variants and immunogenic fragments. "Corresponding" in this context means that if the tumor expresses, for example, SEQ ID NO: A (A is one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8) or a variant thereof or an immunogenic fragment thereof, the polypeptides, nucleic acids, vectors or compositions of the invention and medicaments comprising them will be based on SEQ ID NO: A or a variant thereof or an immunogenic fragment thereof.

[0101] Suitably, the immune response comprises a CD8+ T cell response, a CD4+ T cell response and / or an antibody response, in particular a CD8+ cytolytic T cell response and a CD4+ helper T cell response. Preferably, the immune response is raised against tumors, particularly those expressing sequences selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and variants thereof and immunogenic fragments thereof.

[0102] In a preferred embodiment, the tumor is a melanoma tumor, such as a cutaneous melanoma tumor. The tumor may be a primary tumor or a metastatic tumor.

[0103] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of treating a human patient suffering from cancer, wherein the cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, or to a method of preventing a human from contracting cancer, wherein the cancer will express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, comprising administering to the human a corresponding polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition of the invention.

[0104] The present invention also provides a polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector, or composition of the present invention for use in treating or preventing human cancer, wherein cells of the cancer express a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of their immunogenic fragments.

[0105] Transcripts corresponding to SEQ ID NOs: 23, 24, 25, 27, and 30 were also overexpressed in uveal melanoma. Thus, in another embodiment, the tumor is a uveal melanoma tumor and / or a tumor expressing a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8.

[0106] Thus, the present invention encompasses a polypeptide having a sequence selected from: (a) any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a); and for example, the polypeptide comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9 to 15, 18, and 22, and for example, the nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 23, 24, 25, 27, and 30, or a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, 33, 35, and 38; and The method, or polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition for use, of the invention is provided wherein the cancer is uveal melanoma. The terms "prevention" and "prophylaxis" are used interchangeably herein.

[0107] (Treatment and vaccination regimens) A therapeutic regimen can include delivery of (i) a polypeptide, nucleic acid, or vector of the invention, (ii) one or more additional polypeptides, nucleic acids, or vectors of the invention, and / or (iii) various other therapeutically useful compounds or molecules, such as antigenic proteins, or other additional components, either simultaneously (e.g., simultaneous administration) or sequentially (e.g., prime-boost), optionally with co-administration of an adjuvant. Examples of simultaneous administration include simultaneous administration at the same external site and simultaneous administration at opposite, contralateral sites. "Simultaneous" administration preferably refers to delivery of all components during the same treatment session. Preferably, all components are administered at the same time (e.g., simultaneous administration of both DNA and protein), although one component may be administered within minutes (e.g., during the same medical appointment or doctor's visit) or within a few hours.

[0108] In some embodiments, a "priming" or first administration of a polypeptide, nucleic acid, or vector of the invention is followed by one or more "boosting" or additional administrations of a polypeptide, nucleic acid, or vector of the invention (a "prime and boost" regimen). In one embodiment, a polypeptide, nucleic acid, or vector of the invention is used in a single prime-boost vaccination regimen. In one embodiment, both the prime and the boost are polypeptides of the invention, in each case the same polypeptide of the invention. In one embodiment, both the prime and the boost are nucleic acids or vectors of the invention, in each case the same nucleic acid or vector of the invention. Alternatively, the prime may be performed using a nucleic acid or vector of the invention and the boost may be performed using a polypeptide of the invention, or the prime may be performed using a polypeptide of the invention and the boost may be performed using a nucleic acid or vector of the invention. Typically, the first or "priming" administration and the second or "boost" administration are administered about 1-12 weeks, or up to 4-6 months, apart. Subsequent "booster" doses may be administered as frequently as every 1-6 weeks, or may be administered later (up to several years later).

[0109] (antigen combination) The polypeptides, nucleic acids or vectors of the invention can be used in combination with one or more other polypeptides or nucleic acids or vectors of the invention and / or in combination with other antigenic polypeptides (or polynucleotides or vectors encoding same) that elicit an immune response directed against melanoma, e.g., cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma. These other antigenic polypeptides can be derived from a variety of sources, including well-described melanoma-associated antigens such as GPR143, PRAME, MAGE-A3 or pMel (gp100). Alternatively, they can include other species of melanoma antigens, including patient-specific neoantigens (Lauss et al., (2017) Nature Communications, 8(1), 1738. http: / / doi.org / 10.1038 / s41467-017-01460-0), retained intronic neoantigens (Smart et al., (2018) Nature Biotechnology. http: / / doi.org / 10.1038 / nbt.4239), and splice variant neoantigens (Hoyos et al., Cancer Cell, 34(2), 181-183. http: / / doi.org / 10.1016 / j.ccell.2018.07.008; Kahles et al., (2018), Cancer Cell, 34(2), 211-224.e6). http: / / doi.org / 10.1016 / j.ccell.2018.07.001), melanoma antigens belonging to the category known as antigens encoding T cell epitopes associated with impaired peptide processing (TIEPPs; Gigoux, M. and Wolchok, J. (2018), JEM 215, 2233; Marijt et al., (2018), JEM 215, 2325), or neoantigens yet to be discovered (including CLT antigens).Furthermore, antigenic peptides from these various sources could also be combined with (i) nonspecific immunostimulants / adjuvants and / or (ii) antigens (delivered as polypeptides or as polynucleotides or vectors encoding these CD4 antigens) that contain, for example, universal CD4 helper epitopes and are known to elicit potent CD4 helper T cells, to amplify the anti-melanoma-specific response elicited by the co-administered antigens.

[0110] The different polypeptides, nucleic acids or vectors may be formulated in the same formulation or in separate formulations. Alternatively, the polypeptides may be provided as fusion proteins in which the polypeptide of the invention is fused to a second or further polypeptide (see below). A nucleic acid may be provided that encodes the fusion protein.

[0111] More generally, when two or more components are used in combination, the components may be, for example: (1) as two or more individual antigenic polypeptide components, (2) as a fusion protein comprising both (or additional) polypeptide components, (3) as one or more polypeptide and one or more polynucleotide components: (4) as two or more individual polynucleotide components, (5) as a single polynucleotide encoding two or more individual polypeptide components; or (6) as a single polynucleotide encoding a fusion protein containing both (or additional) polypeptide components, could exist.

[0112] For convenience, when multiple components are present, it is often desirable that they be contained within a single fusion protein or polynucleotide encoding a single fusion protein (see below). In one embodiment of the invention, all components are provided as polypeptides (e.g., within a single fusion protein). In another embodiment of the invention, all components are provided as polynucleotides (e.g., a single polynucleotide, such as one encoding a single fusion protein).

[0113] (fusion protein) As an embodiment of the above discussion regarding antigen combinations, the present invention also provides isolated polypeptides of the present invention fused to a second or additional polypeptide of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "combined polypeptides of the present invention") by creating a nucleic acid construct that fuses together sequences encoding the individual antigens. Combination polypeptides of the present invention are predicted to have the utilities described herein for polypeptides of the present invention and may have the advantages of superior immunogenicity or vaccine activity, or prophylactic or therapeutic efficacy (including increased breadth and depth of response), and may be particularly valuable in outbred populations. Fusion of polypeptides of the present invention may also provide the advantage of increasing the efficiency of the construction and production of vaccine antigens and / or vectored vaccines (including nucleic acid vaccines).

[0114] As described above in the "Antigen Combinations" section, the polypeptides of the invention as well as the combination polypeptides of the invention may also be fused to a polypeptide sequence that is not a polypeptide of the invention, comprising one or more of the following: (a) other polypeptides that are melanoma-associated antigens and therefore may be useful as immunogenic sequences in vaccines (e.g., the above-mentioned GPR143, PRAME, MAGE-A3, and pMel (gp100)); and (b) A polypeptide sequence capable of enhancing an immune response (i.e., an immunostimulatory sequence). (c) For example, a polypeptide sequence that contains a universal CD4 helper epitope and is capable of providing strong CD4+ help and augmenting CD8+ T cell responses against CLT antigen epitopes.

[0115] The present invention also provides nucleic acids encoding the fusion proteins, and other aspects of the invention (vectors, compositions, cells, etc.) mutatis mutandis, with respect to the polypeptides of the invention.

[0116] (CLT antigen-binding polypeptide) Antigen-binding polypeptides immunospecific for tumor-expressed antigens (polypeptides of the invention) may be designed to recruit cytolytic cells to antigen-modified tumor cells and mediate their destruction. One mechanism for recruitment of cytolytic cells by such antigen-binding polypeptides is known as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Accordingly, the invention provides antigen-binding polypeptides immunospecific for the polypeptides of the invention. Antigen-binding polypeptides, including antibodies, such as monoclonal antibodies and fragments thereof, e.g., domain antibodies, Fab fragments, Fv fragments, and VHH fragments, may be produced in non-human animal species (e.g., rodents or camelids) and humanized, or may be produced in non-human species (e.g., rodents genetically engineered to have a human immune system).

[0117] Antigen-binding polypeptides can be produced by methods well known to those skilled in the art. For example, monoclonal antibodies can be produced using hybridoma technology by fusing specific antibody-producing B cells with myeloma (B-cell cancer) cells selected for their ability to grow in tissue culture and for their lack of antibody chain synthesis (Kohler and Milstein, 1975, Nature 256(5517):495-497 and Nelson et al., 2000 (June), Mol Pathol. 53(3):111-7, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

[0118] Monoclonal antibodies against a desired antigen can be prepared, for example: a) immortalizing lymphocytes obtained from the peripheral blood of an animal (including a human) that has been previously immunized / exposed with a desired antigen with immortal cells, preferably myeloma cells, to form hybridomas; b) culturing the formed immortalized cells (hybridomas) and recovering cells that produce antibodies with the desired specificity; can be obtained by

[0119] Monoclonal antibodies can be obtained by a process comprising the following steps: a) cloning into a vector, in particular a phage, more particularly a filamentous bacteriophage, a DNA or cDNA sequence obtained from lymphocytes, in particular peripheral blood lymphocytes, of an animal (preferably previously immunized with the desired antigen); b) transforming a prokaryotic cell with the vector under conditions that allow antibody production; c) selecting antibodies by subjecting them to antigen affinity selection; d) recovering antibodies having the desired specificity; e) expressing antibody-encoding nucleic acid molecules obtained from B cells of a patient exposed to the antigen or an animal immunized with the antigen in the laboratory. The selected antibodies may then be produced using conventional recombinant protein production techniques (eg, from genetically engineered CHO cells).

[0120] The present invention provides isolated antigen-binding polypeptides immunospecific for a polypeptide of the invention. Preferably, the antigen-binding polypeptide is a monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof. In certain embodiments, the antigen-binding polypeptide is conjugated to a cytotoxic moiety. An example of this cytotoxic moiety includes the Fc domain of an antibody, which will recruit Fc receptor-bearing cells to promote ADCC. Alternatively, the antigen-binding polypeptide may be linked to a biotoxin or a cytotoxic chemical.

[0121] Another important class of antigen-binding polypeptides includes T cell receptor (TCR)-derived molecules that bind to HLA-presenting fragments of the antigens of the invention. In this embodiment, TCR-based biologics (including TCRs derived directly from patients or specifically engineered high-affinity TCRs) that recognize CLT antigens (or derivatives thereof) on the surface of tumor cells can also contain a targeting moiety that recognizes components on T cells (or other types of immune cells) that attract these immune cells to tumors, and can provide a therapeutic effect. In some embodiments, the targeting moiety may also stimulate beneficial activities (including cytolytic activity) of the redirected immune cells.

[0122] Thus, in one embodiment, the antigen-binding polypeptide is immunospecific for an HLA-binding polypeptide that is, or is a part of, a polypeptide of the invention, for example, the antigen-binding polypeptide is a T-cell receptor. In one embodiment, the antigen-binding polypeptides of the invention may be conjugated to another polypeptide capable of binding to cytotoxic cells or other immune components within a subject.

[0123] In one embodiment, the antigen-binding polypeptide is for use in medicine. In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition is provided comprising an antigen-binding polypeptide of the invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such a composition may be a sterile composition suitable for parenteral administration. See, for example, the disclosure of pharmaceutical compositions above.

[0124] The present invention provides a method of treating a human suffering from cancer, wherein cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8, and any one of their immunogenic fragments and variants, or a method of preventing a human from contracting cancer, wherein cells of the cancer will express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8, and any one of their immunogenic fragments and variants, comprising administering to the human an antigen-binding polypeptide of the invention or a composition comprising the antigen-binding polypeptide.

[0125] In one embodiment, there is provided an antigen-binding polypeptide of the invention, optionally conjugated to a cytotoxic moiety, or a composition comprising this antigen-binding polypeptide of the invention, for use in the treatment or prevention of cancer in a human, wherein cancer cells express a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of their immunogenic fragments. Suitably, in any of the above embodiments, the cancer is melanoma, particularly cutaneous melanoma.

[0126] In one embodiment, the polypeptide comprises a sequence selected from: (a) any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a); and for example, the polypeptide comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9 to 15, 18, and 22, and for example, the nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 23, 24, 25, 27, and 30, or SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, 33, 35, and 38; and the cancer is uveal melanoma.

[0127] The antigen-binding polypeptide (such as an antibody or a fragment thereof) may be administered at a dose of, for example, 5 to 1000 mg, for example, 25 to 500 mg, for example, 100 to 300 mg, for example, about 200 mg.

[0128] (Cell therapy that enhances antigen presentation in vivo) Any of a variety of cell delivery vehicles may be used within pharmaceutical compositions to promote the generation of an antigen-specific immune response. Accordingly, the present invention provides cells that are isolated antigen-presenting cells (hereinafter referred to as "APCs of the present invention") that have been modified by ex vivo loading with a polypeptide of the present invention or genetically engineered to express a polypeptide of the present invention. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) include, for example, dendritic cells, macrophages, B cells, monocytes, and other cells that may be engineered to be efficient APCs. Such cells may, but need not, be genetically modified to enhance antigen-presenting capacity, improve activation and / or persistence of T cell responses, and / or be immunocompatible with receptors (i.e., HLA haplotype-matched). APCs can generally be isolated from any of a variety of body fluids and organs and may be autologous, allogeneic, syngeneic, or xenogeneic.

[0129] In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, dendritic cells or their precursors are used as APCs. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the APCs of the present invention are dendritic cells. Dendritic cells are highly potent APCs (Banchereau and Steinman, 1998, Nature, 392:245-251) and have been shown to be effective as physiological adjuvants for eliciting prophylactic or therapeutic immunity (see, e.g., Timmerman and Levy, 1999, Ann. Rev. Med., 50:507-529). In general, dendritic cells may be identified based on their typical shape (stellate in situ, with prominent cytoplasmic processes (dendrites) visible in vitro), their ability to internalize, process, and present antigens with high efficiency, and their ability to activate naive T cell responses. Dendritic cells may, of course, be engineered in vivo or ex vivo to express specific cell surface receptors or ligands not normally found on dendritic cells, and such modified dendritic cells are also contemplated by the present invention. Instead of dendritic cells, antigen-loaded secretory vesicles (called exosomes) may be used in immunogenic compositions (see Zitvogel et al., 1998, Nature Med. 4:594-600). Thus, in one embodiment, exosomes loaded with a polypeptide of the present invention are provided.

[0130] Dendritic cells and progenitor cells may be obtained from peripheral blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, skin, umbilical cord blood, or any other suitable tissue or body fluid. For example, dendritic cells may be differentiated in vitro by adding a combination of cytokines, such as GM-CSF, IL-4, IL-13, and / or TNFα, to a culture of monocytes collected from peripheral blood. Alternatively, CD34+ cells collected from peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, or bone marrow may be differentiated into dendritic cells by adding to a culture medium containing a combination of GM-CSF, IL-3, TNFα, CD40 ligand, LPS, flt3 ligand, and / or other compounds that induce dendritic cell differentiation, maturation, and proliferation.

[0131] Dendritic cells are conveniently categorized as "immature" and "mature" cells, allowing for easy differentiation of two well-characterized phenotypes. However, this nomenclature should not be interpreted as excluding all possible intermediate stages in differentiation. Immature dendritic cells are characterized as APCs with high antigen uptake and processing capacity, which correlates with high expression of Fcγ receptors and mannose receptors. The mature phenotype typically expresses fewer of these markers but is characterized by high expression of cell surface molecules involved in T cell activation, such as class I and class II MHC, adhesion molecules (e.g., CD54 and CD11), and costimulatory molecules (e.g., CD40, CD80, CD86, and 4-1BB).

[0132] APCs may also be genetically engineered, e.g., transfected with a polynucleotide encoding a protein (or portion thereof or other variant thereof) such that the polypeptide is expressed on the cell surface. Such transfection may be performed ex vivo, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the transfected cells may then be used as described herein. Alternatively, transfection may occur in vivo by administering to a patient a gene transfer vehicle that targets dendritic cells or other antigen-presenting cells. In vivo and ex vivo transfection of dendritic cells may be performed using any method generally known in the art, such as, for example, the method described in WO 97 / 24447 or the gene gun approach described in Mahvi et al., 1997, Immunology and Cell Biology 75:456-460. Antigen loading into dendritic cells can be achieved by transfecting dendritic cells or precursor cells with polypeptides, DNA (e.g., plasmid vectors), or RNA; or by transfecting recombinant bacteria or viruses expressing the antigen (e.g., adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV) (e.g., AAV types 5 and 2), alphaviruses (e.g., Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), Sindbis virus (SIN), Semliki Forest virus (SFV)), herpesviruses, arenaviruses (e.g., lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)), measles, etc.). This may be achieved by incubating with a virus, poxvirus (such as modified vaccinia virus (MVA) or fowlpox), paramyxovirus, lentivirus, or rhabdovirus (such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)). Prior to loading, the polypeptide may be covalently linked to an immunological partner (e.g., a carrier molecule) that provides T cell help. Alternatively, dendritic cells may be pulsed with an unconjugated immunological partner, either individually or in the presence of the polypeptide or vector.

[0133] The present invention provides specifically designed, short, chemically synthesized, epitope-encoding fragments of polypeptide antigens for delivery to antigen-presenting cells. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this class of molecules, known as synthetic long peptides (SLPs), provides a therapeutic platform for stimulating (or loading) cells in vitro with the antigenic polypeptides of the invention (Gornati et al., 2018, Front. Imm, 9:1484) or as a method for introducing polypeptide antigens into antigen-presenting cells in vivo (Melief and van der Burg et al., 2008, Nat. Rev. Cancer, 8:351-60).

[0134] In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition is provided comprising the antigen-presenting cells of the present invention, preferably dendritic cells, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such a composition may be a sterile composition suitable for parenteral administration. See, for example, the disclosure of pharmaceutical compositions above. In one embodiment there is provided an antigen presenting cell, preferably a dendritic cell, of the invention for use in medicine.

[0135] Similarly, there is provided a method for treating a human suffering from cancer, wherein the cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, or a method for preventing a human from contracting cancer, wherein the cells of the cancer will express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, the method comprising administering to the human an antigen-presenting cell of the present invention, preferably a dendritic cell, or a composition comprising the antigen-presenting cell of the present invention.

[0136] In one embodiment, there is provided an antigen-presenting cell of the present invention, preferably a dendritic cell, or a composition comprising the antigen-presenting cell of the present invention for use in treating or preventing human cancer, wherein the cancer cells express a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of their immunogenic fragments.

[0137] In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition is provided comprising the exosomes of the present invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such a composition may be a sterile composition suitable for parenteral administration. See, for example, the disclosure of pharmaceutical compositions above. The composition may also optionally include an immunostimulant. See, for example, the disclosure of immunostimulants above. In one embodiment, there is provided an exosome of the invention for use in medicine.

[0138] Similarly, there is provided a method for treating a human suffering from cancer, wherein cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, or a method for preventing a human from contracting cancer, wherein cells of the cancer will express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, the method comprising administering to the human the exosomes of the present invention or a composition comprising the exosomes of the present invention.

[0139] In one embodiment, there is provided an exosome of the present invention or a composition of the present invention comprising the exosome for use in treating or preventing human cancer, wherein cells of the cancer express a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments thereof. In any one of the above embodiments, suitably the cancer is melanoma, particularly cutaneous melanoma.

[0140] (Stimulated T cell therapy) In addition to the in vivo or ex vivo APC-mediated generation of T cells immunospecific for the polypeptides of the invention, autologous or non-autologous T cells may be isolated from a subject, e.g., from peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood and / or by apheresis, and stimulated in the presence of a tumor-associated antigen loaded onto an MHC molecule (signal 1) on the APC cells to induce proliferation of T cells bearing a TCR immunospecific for that antigen.

[0141] Successful T cell activation requires the binding of the costimulatory surface molecules B7 and CD28 on antigen-presenting cells and T cells, respectively (signal 2). Both signals 1 and 2 are required to achieve optimal T cell activation. In contrast, antigenic peptide stimulation (signal 1) in the absence of costimulation (signal 2) fails to induce full T cell activation and may result in T cell tolerance. In addition to costimulatory molecules, inhibitory molecules, such as CTLA-4 and PD-1, exist and induce signals to inhibit T cell activation.

[0142] Thus, autologous or non-autologous T cells may be stimulated and expanded in the presence of a polypeptide of the invention and reintroduced into a patient at risk of or afflicted with a cancer whose cancer cells express the corresponding polypeptide of the invention, provided that the antigen-specific TCR will recognize the antigen presented by the patient's MHC, target cancer cells expressing the corresponding polypeptide, and induce their death.

[0143] In one embodiment, there is provided a polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition of the invention for use in the ex vivo stimulation and / or expansion of T cells from a human suffering from cancer, followed by reintroduction of the stimulated and / or expanded T cells into that human to treat the cancer in that human.

[0144] The present invention provides a method for treating cancer in a human, wherein cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8, immunogenic fragments thereof, and any one of variants thereof, the method comprising removing from the human a population of leukocytes comprising at least T cells, optionally together with antigen-presenting cells; stimulating and / or expanding the T cells in the presence of a corresponding polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector, or composition of the present invention; and reintroducing some or all of the leukocytes, comprising at least the stimulated and / or expanded T cells, into the human. In any one of the above embodiments, suitably the cancer is melanoma, particularly cutaneous melanoma.

[0145] In one embodiment, there is provided a process for preparing a T cell population that is cytotoxic to cancer cells expressing a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, the process comprising: (a) obtaining T cells and antigen-presenting cells from a cancer patient; and (ii) stimulating and expanding the T cell population ex vivo with a corresponding polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition of the invention.

[0146] "Corresponding" in this context means that when cancer cells express, for example, SEQ ID NO: A (A is one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8) or a variant thereof or an immunogenic fragment thereof, the T cell population is stimulated and expanded in vitro with SEQ ID NO: A or a variant thereof or an immunogenic fragment thereof in the form of a polypeptide, nucleic acid or vector, or a composition comprising one of the above.

[0147] For example, in such a process, the culturing and propagation is carried out in the presence of dendritic cells, which will be transfected with a nucleic acid molecule or vector of the invention and will express a polypeptide of the invention.

[0148] The present invention provides a T cell population obtainable by any of the above processes (hereinafter referred to as a T cell population of the present invention). In one embodiment, there is provided a cell (hereinafter referred to as a T cell of the invention) that is a T cell stimulated with a polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition of the invention.

[0149] In one embodiment, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a T cell population or T cell of the invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such a composition may, for example, be a sterile composition suitable for parenteral administration. In one embodiment there is provided a T cell population or T cell of the invention for use in medicine.

[0150] Similarly, there is provided a method of treating a human suffering from cancer, wherein cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, or a method of preventing a human from contracting cancer, wherein cells of the cancer will express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, the method comprising administering to the human a T cell population or T cell of the invention or a composition comprising the T cell population or T cell of the invention.

[0151] In one embodiment, there is provided a T cell population of the invention, a T cell of the invention, or a composition comprising said T cell population or T cell of the invention for use in treating or preventing cancer in a human, wherein the cancer cells express a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and an immunogenic fragment of any one thereof. In any one of the above embodiments, suitably the cancer is melanoma, particularly cutaneous melanoma.

[0152] In one embodiment, the polypeptide comprises a sequence selected from: (a) any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a); and for example, the polypeptide comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9 to 15, 18, and 22, and for example, the nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 23, 24, 25, 27, and 30, or a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, 33, 35, and 38; and There is provided a T cell population, T cell, antigen presenting cell, exosome or composition for the process, method or use of the invention, wherein the cancer is uveal melanoma.

[0153] (Therapy using genetically engineered immune cells) Derivatives of all types of CLT antigen-binding polypeptides described above, including TCRs or TCR mimetics (see Dubrovsky et al., 2016, Oncoimmunology) that recognize CLT antigen-derived peptides complexed with human HLA molecules, may be engineered to be expressed on the surface of T cells (autologous or non-autologous) and then administered as adoptive T cell therapy for the treatment of cancer.

[0154] These derivatives fall into the category of "chimeric antigen receptors (CARs)," which as used herein may also refer to, for example, artificial T cell receptors, chimeric T cell receptors, or chimeric immunoreceptors, and may include receptors engineered to confer artificial specificity to particular immune effector cells. CARs may also be used to confer the specificity of monoclonal antibodies to T cells, thereby enabling the generation of large numbers of specific T cells for use in, for example, adoptive cell therapy. CARs will direct the specificity of cells to tumor-associated antigens that are polypeptides of the invention bound to HLA.

[0155] Another approach to treating cancer in patients is to genetically modify T cells to target antigens expressed on tumor cells via the expression of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). This technology is reviewed in Wendell and June, 2017, Cell, 168:724-740, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0156] Such CAR T cells may be produced by obtaining a cell sample containing T cells or T cell precursors from a subject, e.g., from peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, and / or by apheresis, and transfecting the cells with a nucleic acid encoding a chimeric T cell receptor (CAR) that is immunospecific for a polypeptide of the invention that is bound to HLA. Such a nucleic acid could be integrated into the genome of the cells, and an effective amount of the cells could be administered to the subject to provide a T cell response against the cells expressing the polypeptide of the invention. For example, a cell sample may be obtained from the subject.

[0157] It is understood that the cells used to generate the CAR-expressing T cells can be autologous or non-autologous. Transgenic CAR-expressing T cells may exhibit endogenous T cell receptor inactivation and / or endogenous HLA inactivation. For example, the cells may be engineered to eliminate expression of endogenous α / β T cell receptors (TCRs).

[0158] Methods for transfecting cells are well known in the art, but highly efficient transfection methods such as electroporation can also be used. For example, a nucleic acid or vector of the invention expressing a CAR construct may be introduced into a cell using a "nucleofection" device.

[0159] A cell population for CAR-expressing T cells may be enriched after transfection of the cells. For example, CAR-expressing cells can be sorted (e.g., by FACS) from non-expressing cells using an antigen bound by the CAR or a CAR-binding antibody. Alternative enrichment steps include depleting non-T cells or cells that do not express a CAR. For example, CD56+ cells can be depleted from a culture population.

[0160] A population of transgenic CAR-expressing cells may be cultured ex vivo in a medium that selectively enhances the proliferation of CAR-expressing T cells, thus allowing the CAR-expressing T cells to be expanded ex vivo.

[0161] Samples of the CAR cells may be stored (or maintained in culture). For example, samples may be cryopreserved for later expansion or analysis. CAR-expressing T cells may also be used in combination with other therapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors, including PD-L1 antagonists.

[0162] In one embodiment, there is provided a cytotoxic cell that has been engineered to express any of the above antigen-binding polypeptides on its surface. Suitably, the cytotoxic cell is a T cell.

[0163] In one embodiment there is provided a cytotoxic cell, preferably a T cell, engineered to express any of the above antigen-binding polypeptides on its surface for use in medicine. The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the cytotoxic cells of the present invention, which are preferably T cells.

[0164] Provided are methods for treating a human patient suffering from cancer, wherein cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, or methods for preventing a human from contracting cancer, wherein the cancer will express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, the methods comprising administering to the human a cytotoxic cell, preferably a T cell, of the invention.

[0165] In one embodiment, the cytotoxic cells of the present invention, preferably T cells, are for use in the treatment or prevention of human cancer, wherein the cells of the cancer express a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of their immunogenic fragments.

[0166] (combination therapy) The methods of treating cancer of the present invention may be performed in combination with other therapies, particularly checkpoint inhibitors and interferons. Polypeptides, nucleic acids, vectors, antigen-binding polypeptides, and (APC- and T-cell-based) adoptive cell therapies can be used in combination with other components engineered to enhance their immunogenicity (e.g., to improve the magnitude and / or scope of the immune response they elicit) or to provide other activities (e.g., activation of other aspects of the innate or adaptive immune response, or destruction of tumor cells, etc.).

[0167] Accordingly, the present invention provides a composition (i.e., an immunogenic, vaccine or pharmaceutical composition) of the invention, or a kit of several such compositions, comprising a polypeptide, nucleic acid, or vector of the invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and: (i) one or more additional immunogenic or immunostimulatory polypeptides (e.g., interferon, IL-12, checkpoint inhibitor molecules or nucleic acids encoding same, or vectors comprising said nucleic acids), (ii) a small molecule (e.g., HDAC inhibitors or other agents that modify the epigenetic profile of cancer cells) or a biologic (delivered as a polypeptide or nucleic acid encoding same, or vectors comprising said nucleic acids) that enhances translation and / or presentation of the polypeptide product that is the subject of the invention.

[0168] Checkpoint inhibitors, which block normal proteins on cancer cells or the T cells that respond to them, could be a particularly important class of drugs to combine with CLT antigen-based therapies because they attempt to overcome one of cancer's main defenses against immune system attack.

[0169] Accordingly, one aspect of the invention includes administering a polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector, antigen-binding polypeptide, composition, T cell, T cell population, or antigen-presenting cell of the invention in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor, such as a PD-1 inhibitor such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo), a PD-L1 inhibitor such as atezolizumab (Tecentriq), avelumab (Bavencio), and durvalumab (Imfinzi), or a CTLA-4 inhibitor such as ipilimumab (Yervoy).

[0170] Interferons (such as alpha, beta, and gamma) are a family of proteins produced by the body in very small amounts. Interferons can slow or stop cancer cell division, reduce the ability of cancer cells to defend themselves against the immune system, and / or enhance multiple aspects of the adaptive immune system. Interferons are usually administered by subcutaneous injection, for example, in the thigh or abdomen.

[0171] Thus, one aspect of the invention includes the administration of a polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector, antigen-binding polypeptide or composition of the invention in combination with an interferon, such as interferon alpha.

[0172] Also, different modalities of the invention may be combined, for example, the polypeptides, nucleic acids and vectors of the invention may be combined with the APCs, T cells or T cell populations of the invention (described below). One or more modalities of the present invention may also be combined with conventional anti-cancer chemotherapy and / or radiation therapy.

[0173] (diagnosis) In another aspect, the invention provides methods of using one or more polypeptides or nucleic acids of the invention to diagnose cancer, in particular melanoma, e.g., cutaneous melanoma, or to diagnose a human subject suitable for treatment with a polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector, antigen-binding polypeptide, adoptive cell therapy method, or composition of the invention.

[0174] Thus, the present invention provides a method for diagnosing whether a human is suffering from cancer, the method comprising the steps of determining whether cells of the cancer express a polypeptide sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of their immunogenic fragments or variants (e.g., selected from the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 9 to 22 and 39), or a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide sequence (e.g., selected from the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 23 to 30 and 31 to 38), and diagnosing the human as suffering from cancer if the polypeptide or the corresponding nucleic acid is overexpressed in the cancer cells.

[0175] The present invention provides a method for diagnosing that a human has cancer that is cutaneous melanoma, the method comprising the steps of determining whether cells of the cancer express a polypeptide sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 6 and 7, and immunogenic fragments or variants thereof, or a nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide sequence, and diagnosing that the human has cancer that is cutaneous melanoma if said polypeptide or corresponding nucleic acid is overexpressed in the cancer cells. As used herein, "overexpressed" in cancer cells means that the expression level in the cancer cells is higher than in normal cells.

[0176] The present invention provides a method for diagnosing that a human is suffering from a cancer that is cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma, the method comprising the steps of determining whether cells of the cancer express a polypeptide sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8, and immunogenic fragments or variants of any one thereof, or a nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide sequence, and diagnosing that the human is suffering from a cancer that is cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma if said polypeptide or corresponding nucleic acid is overexpressed in the cancer cells.

[0177] Overexpression can be determined by reference to the level of a nucleic acid or polypeptide of the invention in a control human subject known to be cancer-free. Thus, overexpression indicates that a nucleic acid or polypeptide of the invention is detected at a significantly higher level (e.g., 30%, 50%, 100%, or 500% higher) in a test subject than in the control subject. If the control human subject has a nucleic acid or polypeptide of the invention at an undetectably low level, a diagnosis can be made upon detection of the nucleic acid or polypeptide of the invention.

[0178] The present invention also provides a method of treating a human suffering from cancer, comprising: (a) determining whether cells of the cancer express a polypeptide sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-8 and any one of their immunogenic fragments or variants (e.g., selected from the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 9-22 and 39), or a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide (e.g., selected from the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 23-30 and 31-38); and, if so, (b) administering to the human a corresponding polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector, composition, T cell population, T cell, antigen-presenting cell, antigen-binding polypeptide or cytotoxic cell of the invention.

[0179] Similarly, the use of a polypeptide isolated from a tumor of a human suffering from cancer, comprising a sequence selected from: (a) any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8; or (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a); Alternatively, there is provided the use of a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide as a biomarker to determine whether a person would be suitable for treatment with a vaccine comprising the corresponding polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector, composition, T cell population, T cell, antigen-presenting cell, antigen-binding polypeptide or cytotoxic cell of the invention. Suitably the cancer is melanoma, particularly cutaneous melanoma.

[0180] The present invention also encompasses sequences wherein the polypeptide is selected from: (a) any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a); The method or use of the present invention also provides, for example, a method or use in which the polypeptide comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9 to 15, 18, and 22, and the nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 23, 24, 25, 27, and 30, or a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, 33, 35, and 38; and the cancer is uveal melanoma.

[0181] Suitably, the polypeptide of the present invention has a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8, or a fragment thereof, such as an immunogenic fragment thereof (eg selected from the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 9 to 22 and 39). Suitably, the nucleic acid of the invention has or comprises a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 23 to 30 or 31 to 38, or a fragment thereof, such as an immunogenic fragment thereof.

[0182] Kits for detecting the presence of nucleic acids are well known. For example, kits containing at least two oligonucleotides hybridizing to a single polynucleotide may be used in real-time PCR (RT-PCR) reactions, allowing for the detection and semi-quantification of specific nucleic acids. Such kits may allow for the detection of PCR products by the generation of a fluorescent signal as a result of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) (e.g., TaqMan® kits) or by binding to double-stranded DNA (e.g., SYBR® Green kits). Some kits (e.g., those containing TaqMan® probes spanning multiple exons of the target DNA) allow for the detection and quantification of mRNA, e.g., transcript-encoding nucleic acids of the present invention. Assays using certain kits may be set up in a multiplex format to simultaneously detect multiple nucleic acids within a single reaction. Kits for detecting active DNA (i.e., DNA with specific epigenetic features indicative of expression) may also be used. Additional components that may be present in such kits include diagnostic reagents or reporters that facilitate the detection of the nucleic acids of the present invention.

[0183] The nucleic acids of the present invention may also be detected in a liquid biopsy using a blood sample from a patient. Such a procedure provides a non-invasive alternative to a surgical biopsy. Plasma from such a blood sample can be isolated and analyzed for the presence of the nucleic acids of the present invention.

[0184] Polypeptides of the invention may be detected using antigen-specific antibodies in ELISA-type assays, which detect the polypeptides of the invention in homogenized preparations of patient tumor samples. Alternatively, polypeptides of the invention may be detected by immunohistochemical analysis, in which sections of patient tumor samples stained with an appropriately labeled antibody preparation are examined under a light microscope to identify the presence of the polypeptide antigen. As a further alternative, polypeptides of the invention may be detected by immunohistochemical analysis, in which sections of patient tumor samples stained with an appropriately labeled antibody preparation are examined under a light microscope to identify the presence of the polypeptide antigen.

[0185] Polypeptides of the invention may also be detected by determining whether they are able to stimulate T cells that are mounted to be reactive to the polypeptide.

[0186] A method for treating human cancer, particularly melanoma, e.g., cutaneous melanoma, comprises (i) detecting the presence of a nucleic acid or polypeptide of the invention, and (ii) administering to the subject a nucleic acid, polypeptide, vector, cell, T cell or T cell population, or composition of the invention (preferably administering the same nucleic acid or polypeptide, or a fragment thereof, that was detected).

[0187] Methods for treating human cancer, particularly melanoma, e.g., cutaneous melanoma, also include administering to a subject in which the presence of a (preferably the same) nucleic acid or polypeptide of the invention has been detected a nucleic acid, polypeptide, vector, cell, T cell or T cell population or composition of the invention.

[0188] In particular, the cancer to be diagnosed and possibly treated is melanoma, such as cutaneous melanoma. If a polypeptide of the present invention that is SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5 or 8 or a fragment thereof is detected, the cancer is predicted to be cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma.

[0189] SPECIAL EMBODIMENTS In one embodiment, the CLT antigen polypeptide comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO: 1. Exemplary fragments include or consist of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10. Exemplary nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide sequence comprise or consist of SEQ ID NO: 23 or SEQ ID NO: 31. Corresponding nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes, as listed above, are provided. The nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes can be used to treat cancer, particularly melanoma, such as cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma. Related diagnostic methods are also provided.

[0190] In one embodiment, the CLT antigen polypeptide comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:2. Exemplary fragments include or consist of any one of SEQ ID NOs:11-14. Exemplary nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide sequence comprise or consist of SEQ ID NO:24 or SEQ ID NO:32. Corresponding nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes are provided. The nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes can be used to treat cancer, particularly melanoma, such as cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma. Related diagnostic methods are also provided.

[0191] In one embodiment, the CLT antigen polypeptide comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:3. An exemplary fragment comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:15. Exemplary nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide sequence comprise or consist of SEQ ID NO:25 or SEQ ID NO:33. Corresponding nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes, as listed above, are provided. The nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes can be used to treat cancer, particularly melanoma, such as cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma. Related diagnostic methods are also provided.

[0192] In one embodiment, the CLT antigen polypeptide comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:4. Exemplary fragments include or consist of any one of SEQ ID NOs:16 and 17. Exemplary nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide sequence comprise or consist of SEQ ID NO:26 or SEQ ID NO:34. Corresponding nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes listed above are provided. The nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes can be used to treat cancer, particularly melanoma, e.g., cutaneous melanoma. Related diagnostic methods are also provided.

[0193] In one embodiment, the CLT antigen polypeptide comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:5. An exemplary fragment comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:18. An exemplary nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide sequence comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:27 or SEQ ID NO:35. Corresponding nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes, as listed above, are provided. The nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes can be used to treat cancer, particularly melanoma, such as cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma. Related diagnostic methods are also provided.

[0194] In one embodiment, the CLT antigen polypeptide comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:6. Exemplary fragments include or consist of any one of SEQ ID NOs:19 and 20. Further exemplary fragments include or consist of SEQ ID NO:39. Exemplary nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide sequence include or consist of SEQ ID NO:28 or SEQ ID NO:36. Corresponding nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes are provided. The nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes can be used to treat cancer, particularly melanoma, e.g., cutaneous melanoma. Related diagnostic methods are also provided.

[0195] In one embodiment, the CLT antigen polypeptide comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:7. An exemplary fragment comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:21. Exemplary nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide sequence comprise or consist of SEQ ID NO:29 or SEQ ID NO:37. Corresponding nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes, as listed above, are provided. The nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes can be used to treat cancer, particularly melanoma, e.g., cutaneous melanoma. Related diagnostic methods are also provided.

[0196] In one embodiment, the CLT antigen polypeptide comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:8. An exemplary fragment comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:22. An exemplary nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide sequence comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:38. Corresponding nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes are provided. The nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), T cells, T cell populations, cytotoxic cells, antigen-binding polypeptides, antigen-presenting cells, and exosomes can be used to treat cancer, particularly melanoma, such as cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma. Related diagnostic methods are also provided. [Example]

[0197] (Example) (Example 1 - CLT specific) The aim was to identify cancer-specific transcripts that consist entirely or partially of LTR elements. As a first step, we performed a comprehensive de novo cross-cancer transcriptome assembly. To achieve this, we used RNA sequencing reads from 768 patient samples obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) consortium, representing a wide variety of cancer types (24 gender-balanced samples each from 32 cancer types (31 primary and 1 metastatic melanoma); Table S1) for genome-guided assembly. This sex-balanced sample (excluding sex-specific tissues) was used as an adapter, quality (Q20) trimmed and length filtered (both reads ≥ 35 nucleotide pairs) using cutadapt (v1.13) (Marcel M., 2011, EMBnet J., 17:3), and kmer normalized (k = 20) using khmer (v2.0) (Crusoe et al., 2015, F1000Res., 4:900) with a maximum and minimum depth of 200 and 3, respectively. Reads were mapped to GRCh38 using STAR (2.5.2b) with the same settings as used for the full TCGA and subjected to genome-guided assembly using Trinity (v2.2.0) (Trinity, Grabherr, MG et al., 2011, Nat. Biotechnol., 29:644-52) with built-in in silico depth normalization disabled. The majority of the assembly process was completed within 256 GB RAM on a 32-core HPC node; failed processes were rerun using a 1.5 TB RAM node. The resulting contigs were poly(A) trimmed (using trimpoly in SeqClean v110222) and entropy filtered (≥ 0.7) to remove low-quality, artificial contigs (bbduk in BBMap v36.2). For each cancer type, the original 24 samples were quasi-mapped to the cleaned assembly using Salmon (v0.8.2 or v0.9.2) (Patro, R., et al., 2017, Nat. Methods, 14:417-419), and contigs with expression levels < 0.1 transcripts per million (TPM) were removed.The remaining contigs were mapped to GRCh38 using GMAP (v161107) (Wu et al., 2005, Bioinf., 21:1859-1875), and contigs that did not align with 85% or greater identity over 85% or greater of their length were removed from the assembly. Finally, the combined cancer assembly was flattened and merged using gffread (Cufflinks v2.2.1) (Trapnell et al., 2010, Nat. Biotech., 28:511-515) to obtain the longest continuous transcript. This assembly process was specifically designed to allow for the evaluation of repetitive elements, so monoexonic transcripts were retained but flagged. The completeness and quality of the transcript assembly were assessed by comparison with GENCODE v24basic and MiTranscriptome1 (Iyer et al., 2015, Nat. Genet., 47:199-208). We compiled a list of unique splice sites represented by GENCODE and examined their presence within a two-nucleotide window in the transcriptome assembly. This process identified 1,001,931 transcripts, of which 771,006 were spliced ​​and 230,925 were monoexonic.

[0198] Separately, the assembled contigs were overlaid with genomic repeat annotations to identify transcripts containing LTR elements. LTR and non-LTR elements were annotated as previously described (Attig et al., 2017, Front. In Microbiol., 8:2489). Briefly, GRCh38 was annotated using a hidden Markov model (HMM) representing known human repeat families (Dfam 2.0 library v150923) using RepeatMasker Open-3.0 (Smit, A., R. Hubley, and P. Green, http: / / www.repeatmasker.org, 1996-2010) and constructed using nhmmer (Wheeler et al., 2013, Bioinform., 29:2487-2489). HMM-based scanning improves annotation accuracy compared to BLAST-based methods (Hubley et al., 2016, Nuc. Acid. Res., 44:81-89). RepeatMasker annotates LTRs and internal regions separately, parsing the tabular output and merging adjacent annotations for the same element. This process yielded 181,967 transcripts containing one or more complete or partial LTR elements.

[0199] We estimated transcripts per million (TPM) abundance for all transcripts using Salmon and compared expression within each cancer type to expression in 811 healthy tissue samples (tissue-matched healthy controls for all cancer types obtained from TCGA where available, otherwise from GTEx (The Genotype-Tissue Expression Consortium, 2015, Science, 348:648-60)). Transcripts were considered expressed in cancer if detected at >1 TPM in any sample and cancer-specific if the following criteria were met: (i) expressed in ≥6 of 24 samples of each cancer type; (ii) expressed at <10 TPM in ≥90% of all healthy tissue samples; (iii) expressed in the target cancer type at ≥3x the median expression in any control tissue type; and (iv) expressed in the target cancer type at ≥3x the 90th percentile of each available healthy tissue.

[0200] The list of cancer-specific transcripts was then intersected with the list of transcripts containing complete or partial LTR elements to generate a list of 5,923 transcripts that met all criteria (termed CLTs, for cancer-specific LTR element-spanning transcripts).

[0201] Further curation was performed on the 403 CLTs specifically expressed in melanoma to remove potentially misassembled contigs and those corresponding to cellular gene assemblies. Additional manual evaluation was performed to confirm that the splicing pattern was supported by the original RNA-seq reads from the cancer in which it was determined to be differentially expressed. CLTs were further triaged to discard those with a median expression >1 TPM in any GTEx normal tissue. Of 403 CLTs for cutaneous melanoma, 97 passed these filters.

[0202] Example 2 - Immunopeptidome Analysis Mass spectrometry (MS)-based immunopeptidome analysis is a powerful technique that enables the direct detection of specific peptides bound to HLA molecules (HLAp) and displayed on cell surfaces. This technique involves affinity purification of HLAp from biological samples, such as cells or tissues, using anti-HLA antibody capture. The isolated HLA molecules and bound peptides are then separated from each other, and the eluted peptides are analyzed by nano-ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (nUPLC-MS) (Freudenmann et al., 2018, Immunology 154(3):331-345). In mass spectrometry, specific peptides with defined charge-to-mass ratios (m / z) are selected, isolated, fragmented, and then subjected to a second mass spectrometry (MS / MS) analysis to obtain the m / z of the resulting fragment ions. The fragmentation spectra (MS / MS) can then be collated to accurately identify the amino acid sequences of the selected peptides that generated the detected fragment ions.

[0203] MS / MS spectral interpretation and subsequent peptide sequence identification rely on the match between experimental data and theoretical spectra generated from peptide sequences contained in reference databases. While it is possible to search MS data using predefined lists corresponding to all open reading frames (ORFs) from known transcriptomes or even entire genomes (Nesvizhskii et al., 2014, Nat. Methods 11:1114-1125), matching these ultra-large sequence databases leads to very high false discovery rates (FDRs), limiting the identification of proposed peptides. Furthermore, technical issues (e.g., leucine mass = isoleucine mass) and theoretical issues (e.g., peptide splicing (Liepe et al., 2016, Science 354(6310):354-358)) compound the limitations associated with using ultra-large databases, such as those generated from known transcriptomes or entire genomes. Therefore, in practice, it is very difficult to perform accurate immunopeptidome analysis to identify novel antigens without reference to a well-defined set of potential polypeptide sequences (Li et al., 2016, BMC Genomics 17 (Suppl 13):1031).

[0204] In this way, we constructed a database of all predicted polypeptide sequences (ORFs) of 10 or more residues from the 97 cutaneous melanoma CLTs in Example 1. This resulted in 2,269 ORFs ranging in length from 10 to 207 amino acids.

[0205] Bassani-Sternberg et al. cross-referenced MS / MS data collected from HLA-bound peptide samples derived from 25 cutaneous melanoma patients against reported polypeptide sequences for the entire human proteome (Bassani-Sternberg et al., 2016, Nature Commun., 7:13404; database link: https: / / www.ebi.ac.uk / pride / archive / projects / PXD004894). These analyses revealed tens of thousands of peptides matching known human proteins. As expected, these peptides included those found within multiple tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), including PRAME, MAGEA3, and TRPM1 (melastatin).

[0206] We obtained frozen tumor tissue from two patients diagnosed with melanoma. 0.6–1 g of sample was homogenized, the lysate was centrifuged at high speed, and the clarified lysate was mixed with Protein A (ProA) beads covalently coupled to an anti-human HLA class I monoclonal antibody (W6 / 32). The mixture was incubated overnight at 4°C to enhance antibody binding of HLA class I molecules (Ternette et al., 2018 Proteomics 18, 1700465). HLA class I-binding peptides were eluted from the antibody using 10% acetic acid, and the peptides were then separated from other high-molecular-weight components using reverse-phase column chromatography (Ternette et al., 2018). The purified eluted peptides were subjected to nUPLC-MS, where specific peptides with defined charge-to-mass ratios (m / z) were selected, isolated, fragmented, and subjected to a second round of mass spectrometry (MS / MS) to reveal the m / z of the resulting fragment ions (Ternette et al., 2018), generating MS / MS datasets corresponding to the immunopeptidome of each of these tumor samples.

[0207] Applying detailed knowledge of immunopeptidome assessment, we matched spectra from the PXD004894 HLA class I dataset (Bassani-Sternberg et al., 2016) derived from 25 melanoma patients with spectra from our own HLA class I dataset of 10 melanoma tumors containing CLT-derived ORFs greater than 9 AA in length, aligned with all polypeptide sequences found in the human proteome (UniProt) using PEAKS™ software (v8.5 and vX, Bioinformatics Solutions Inc.). Because the majority of class I HLA-binding peptides found in cells are derived from constitutively expressed proteins, simultaneous matching of these databases with the UniProt proteome helps to confirm the accuracy of our assignment of CLT ORF sequences to MS / MS spectra. PEAKS software, like other MS / MS matching software, quantifies each spectral assignment by assigning a significance probability (p-value) (-10lgP; see Table 1).

[0208] The results of these studies identified over 50 individual peptides that bound to HLA class I molecules immunoprecipitated from tumor samples from 25 patients examined by Bassani-Sternberg et al. and from two melanoma patient samples in our dataset, which corresponded to amino acid sequences of CLT-derived ORFs and did not correspond to polypeptide sequences present within the known human proteome (UniProt).

[0209] The peptide spectra assigned by the PEAKS software were further manually evaluated, and this evaluation was used to confirm the assignment of the spectra to peptides mapped to eight CLT-derived ORFs, which were subsequently defined as CLT antigens (Table 1; SEQ ID NOS: 1–8).

[0210] The detection of these peptides binding to HLA class I molecules confirms that the eight ORFs from which they originate are first translated in melanoma tissue, processed through the HLA class I pathway, and finally presented to the immune system as complexes with HLA class I molecules. Table 1 shows the characteristics of the peptides found in the CLT antigen. Figures 1-14 and 29-31 show representative MS / MS spectra generated from each peptide listed in Table 1. The top panel of each figure shows the MS / MS peptide fragment profile with standard MS / MS annotations (b: N-terminal fragment ion; y: C-terminal fragment ion; -H2O: water loss; -NH3: ammonia loss; [2+]: doubly charged peptide ion; pre: unfragmented precursor peptide ion; a n (-n: internal fragment ions). Shown above are the most abundant fragment ion peaks (images extracted by PEAKS software from our internal dataset or from the dataset of Bassani-Sternberg et al., archived in the PRIDE database link: https: / / www.ebi.ac.uk / pride / archive / projects / PXD004894). The bottom panel of each figure shows a spectral rendering showing the position of the linear peptide sequence mapped to the fragment ions. Consistent with the high -10lgP scores assigned to the peptides in Table 1, these spectra contain numerous fragments that exactly match the sequences of the peptides we discovered in these analyses (SEQ ID NOS: 9-22).

[0211] All peptides longer than 9 AA in length detected binding to HLA class I in Table 1 were evaluated using NetMHCpan 4.0 prediction software (http: / / www.cbs.dtu.dk / services / NetMHCpan / ) to determine the predicted strength of binding to HLA class I type A and B supertypes. The results of these prediction studies showed that all 14 peptides (or 9-mers contained in each complete sequence) were predicted to bind to at least one of the tested supertypes (see Table 2). Among these, many sequences were predicted to bind with high confidence (low rank score %) to specific types within the HLA class I supertypes examined. The fact that all detected peptides were predicted to bind to HLA types predicted to be present in the patient population is consistent with their detection results. Furthermore, even though HLA types were only reported by Bassani-Sternberg et al. for a fraction (20%) of the matched tumor samples, all of the peptides identified in the typed patient tumor samples or discovered in tumor samples from our dataset were predicted by NetMHCpan 4.0 to bind to one of the HLA types reported for that patient.

[0212] To provide further certainty in the assignment of tumor tissue-derived MS spectra to the peptide sequences we discovered, peptides with these discovered sequences were synthesized and analyzed by nUPLC-MS using the same conditions as those applied to tumor samples in the original study (Bassani-Sternberg et al., 2016, Nature Commun., 7: 13404; our database). 2The spectra of selected peptides are shown in Figures 15-28. In each figure, the upper spectrum corresponds to a tumor sample (from the PRIDE database (Bassani-Sternberg et al., 2016, Nature Commun., 7:13404; database link: https: / / www.ebi.ac.uk / pride / archive / projects / PXD004894 or our database), and the lower spectrum corresponds to a synthetically prepared peptide of the same sequence. Selected m / z values ​​of the detected ion fragments are shown for each fragment peak in these upper / lower MS / MS spectra. These figures reveal the precise alignment of the fragments (the slight differences in experimentally determined m / z values ​​between the fragment ions derived from the tumor and synthetic peptides are within the m / z tolerance range of <0.05 Daltons) and confirm the authenticity of the assignment of each spectrum derived from tumor tissue to a CLT-encoded peptide.

[0213] Taken together, the data presented in Tables 1 and 2, Figures 1-14 and 29-31, and Figures 15-28 provide very strong support for the translation, processing, and presentation of the corresponding CLT antigens in melanoma patients.

[0214] To further confirm the cancer specificity of these CLTs, we processed 37 normal tissue samples (10 normal skin, 9 normal lung, and 18 normal breast tissues) and prepared them for immunopeptidome analysis. We matched the spectra of the HLA class I datasets from these normal tissue samples and searched for all possible peptide sequences derived from the polypeptide sequences of CLT antigens 1 to 8. No peptides derived from these CLT antigens were detected in the normal tissue sample set (Table 3), further confirming that these CLTs exhibit cancer-specific expression.

[0215] In summary, the identification of peptides in the immunopeptidome derived from the predicted ORFs indicates that these CLTs are translated into polypeptides (SEQ ID NOS: 1-8; designated CLT antigens) in tumor tissue. These polypeptides are then processed by the cellular immune surveillance apparatus, and the component peptides are loaded onto HLA class I molecules, allowing the cells to be targeted for cytolysis by T cells that recognize the resulting peptide / HLA class I complexes. Therefore, these CLT antigens and their fragments are predicted to be useful in various therapeutic modalities for the treatment of melanoma in patients whose tumors express these antigens.

[0216] Table 1: List of peptides identified by immunopeptidome analysis of melanoma tumor samples and cross-reference with CLT antigen names and sequence numbers. [Table 1] 1 : HLA class I peptides identified by mass spectrometry. 2 :Bassani-Sternberg et al., 2016, Nature Comm., 7: 13404. Our dataset base (2MT3, 2MT4). 3 : Calculated peptide mass. 4 :PEAKS™ program - 101gP value indicates the highest match to the peptide / patient for which more than 1 detection spectrum was obtained. 5 : Number of spectra in which the peptide was detected. 6 : deviation between observed and calculated mass; selected ppm values ​​are given for peptides for which more than one spectrum was obtained.

[0217] Table 2: Predicted NetMHCpan4.0 binding of mass spectrometry-identified peptides (length ≥ 9 residues) to 18 HLA class I supertype alleles (HLA-A0101, HLA-A0201, HLA-A0301, HLA-A1101, HLA-A2402, HLA-A2501, HLA-A2601, HLA-A6801, HLA-B0702, HLA-B0801, HLA-B1501, HLA-B1801, HLA-B2705, HLA-B3501, HLA-B3503, HLA-B4001, HLA-B4002, HLA-B5101) and cross-reference with CLT antigen names and sequence numbers. [Table 2] 1 : Rank scores of ≦2.0% were predicted to bind to the matched HLA class I supertype. 2 : Number of 18 HLA class I supertypes predicted to bind with a rank score of ≦2.0% (all bindings). 3 : Number of 18 HLA class I supertypes predicted to bind with a rank score of ≦0.5% (strong binding). 4 Bassani-Sternberg et al., 2016, Nature Comm., 7: 13404.

[0218] Table 3: Number of peptides derived from CLT antigens 1 to 8 in the normal tissue sample set. [Table 3]

[0219] The results presented in Examples 1 and 2 herein are based in whole or in part on data generated by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network (http: / / cancergenome.nih.gov / ) and the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) Project (supported by Common Funds from the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and by NCI, NHGRI, NHLBI, NIDA, NIMH, and NINDS).

[0220] Example 3 - Assay to demonstrate T cell specificity for CLT antigens in melanoma patients (a) Staining of reactive T cells with CLT antigen peptide pentamer The presence and activity of circulating CD8 T cells specific for CLT antigens in melanoma patients can be measured using HLA class I / peptide pentamer ("pentamer") staining and / or in vitro killing assays. Thus, application of these techniques to CLT antigens discovered using the methods described in Examples 1 and 2 (Tables 1-3, Figures 1-31) can be used to demonstrate the presence of therapeutically relevant T cell responses to CLT antigens in cancer patients.

[0221] For these studies, CD8 T cells isolated from patient blood are expanded using various culture methods, such as anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 coated microbeads and interleukin-2. The expanded cells can then be stained for the specific CLT antigen reactivity of their T cell receptors using CLT peptide pentamers, which consist of pentamers of HLA class I molecules that bind to the relevant CLT antigen peptide within the peptide-binding groove of the HLA molecule. Binding is measured by detection with phycoerythrin- or allophycocyanin-conjugated antibody fragments specific for the coiled-coil multimerization domain of the pentamer structure. In addition to this pentamer staining, further surface markers, such as the memory marker CD45RO and the lysosomal release marker CD107a, can be interrogated. Positive binding of pentamers to specific surface markers can be used to infer both the number and status (memory vs. naive / stem) of the pentamer-reactive T cell population.

[0222] Pentamer-stained cells may also be sorted and purified using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). The sorted cells can then be further tested for their ability to kill target cells in in vitro killing assays. These assays involve a CD8 T cell population and a fluorescently labeled target cell population. In this case, the CD8 population is either CLT antigen-specific cells or CD8 T cells that are pentamer-sorted and specific for a positive control antigen known to induce a potent killing response, such as Mart-1. The target cells for these studies are peptide-pulsed HLA-A T cells. * T2 cells expressing HLA-A 02, peptide-pulsed, * 02, 03 or B *Target cells can include C1R cells transfected with 7AAD, melanoma cell lines previously shown to express CLT / CLT antigens, or patient tumor cells or cell lines such as CaSki transfected with the CLT open reading frame. Target cell death is indicated by uptake of 7AAD. Thus, when target cells are killed by CD8 T cell-mediated apoptosis, they acquire red fluorescence. Therefore, application of such a killing assay to pentamer-selected CLT antigen-specific CD8 T cells can be used to demonstrate the cytotoxic activity of CLT antigen-specific T cells in ex vivo cultures of melanoma patient or healthy donor T cells.

[0223] Figure 32 shows the CLT antigen 6-derived peptide (peptide [ka] (Figure 1) shows HLA pentamer staining of healthy donor CD8+ T cells in vitro, followed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting of pentamer-positive cells and expansion for 14 days using anti-CD3- and anti-CD28-coated beads and IL-2. The right panel shows that these CD8+ T cells exhibited very poor antigen-specific killing of peptide-pulsed A2 target cells but effective antigen-specific killing of CaSki cells transfected with the open reading frame for CLT antigen 6. Negative controls for this in vitro killing assay included irrelevant T2 cells and untransfected CaSki cells without peptide.

[0224] (b) HERVfest analysis of T cell specificity in melanoma patients The functional expansion (fest) technology of specific T cells targets "mutation-associated neoantigens" ( m utation- a ssociated n eo aThis technique has been used to identify specific tumor-derived epitopes present in the antigen (MANA) repertoire (Anagnostou et al., Cancer Discovery 2017; Le et al., Science 2017). Applying this technique to CLT antigens discovered using the methods described in Examples 1 and 2 (Tables 1-3, Figures 1-31) can confirm the presence of therapeutically relevant T cell responses against CLT antigens in cancer patients.

[0225] Similar to other assays for identifying epitope-specific T cells in immune-challenged subjects (e.g., ELISPOT), the "fest" technique unlocks its specificity by expanding cognate T cells in ex vivo cultures containing antigen-presenting cells and the appropriate antigenic peptide. This technique differs from other immunological assays in that it utilizes next-generation sequencing of T cell receptor (TCR) mRNA present in these expanded cultures (specifically, TCRseq, which targets the TCR-VβCDR3 region) to detect specific TCRs propagated in cells cultured with a target peptide (preselected to match the patient's HLA type using standard HLA binding algorithms). Application of TCRseq to tumor tissue from the same patient, harvested after successful checkpoint blockade therapy, can then be used to determine which TCRs / T cells detected in the ex vivo peptide-stimulated cultures are also present in immunosuppressive sites of cancer. In the case of MANAfest, this method is used to identify specific TCRs that recognize MHC-presented neoantigenic peptides produced in each patient's tumor and also detected within T cells within the patient's tumor, allowing the identification of functionally relevant neoantigenic peptides from among the thousands of possible variant peptides discovered by whole-exome sequencing of normal and tumor tissue from each patient (Le et al., Science 2017).

[0226] The application of MANAfest technology (Anagnostou et al., 2017, Cancer Discovery) to CLT antigens is performed as follows: Step 1: Identify peptides within the CLT antigen that are predicted to contain epitopes that efficiently bind selected HLA supertypes. Step 2: Select PBMCs from appropriate patients and match them by HLA type to the peptide library selected in Step 1. Step 4: Separate PBMCs from these patients into T cell and non-T cell fractions. The non-T cells are irradiated (to prevent proliferation) and repopulated with the patient's T cells. Then, split into 20–50 samples, they are expanded for 10–14 days with T cell growth factors and individual CLT-specific synthetic peptides (selected in Step 1). Step 4: TCRseq (sequencing of epitope-specific TCR-Vβ CDR3 sequences) is performed on all wells to identify cognate T cells / TCRs amplified in the presence of the test peptide. The specificity of these TCRs is determined by comparing the TCRs detected in non-amplified T cells with those detected in amplified T cells using TCRseq. The data obtained from this step confirms which peptides elicited the patient's immune response. Step 5: TCRseq is performed on tumor samples to determine which of the specifically amplified TCRs homed to the tumors of patients who responded to checkpoint blockade therapy, providing evidence that T cells bearing this TCR may contribute to the efficacy of checkpoint blockade therapy.

[0227] Example 4 - Assay to demonstrate that high affinity T cells specific for CLT antigens are not deleted from the T cell repertoire of normal subjects ELISPOT assays can be used to demonstrate the presence of CLT antigen-specific CD8 T cells within the normal T cell repertoire of healthy individuals and thus demonstrate that they have not been deleted by central tolerance due to the expression of cancer-specific CLT antigens in naive and thymic tissues of these patients. This type of ELISPOT assay involves several steps. Step 1: CD8 T cells and CD14 monocytes can be isolated from the peripheral blood of normal blood donors and HLA-typed to match the specific CLT antigen being tested. CD8 T cells can be further subdivided into naive and memory subtypes using magnetically labeled antibodies against the memory marker CD45RO. Step 2: CD14 monocytes are pulsed with individual or pooled CLT antigen peptides for 3 hours and then cocultured with CD8 T cells for 14 days. Step 3: Expanded CD8 T cells are isolated from these cultures and restimulated overnight with fresh peptide-pulsed monocytes. These peptides may include individual CLT antigen peptides, irrelevant control peptides, or peptides known to elicit strong responses against infectious (e.g., CMV, EBV, influenza, HCV) or self (e.g., MART-1) antigens. Restimulation is performed on plates coated with an anti-interferon gamma (IFNγ) antibody. This antibody captures any IFNγ secreted by peptide-stimulated T cells. After overnight activation, cells are washed from the plate, and plate-captured IFNγ is detected with additional anti-IFNγ antibody and a standard colorimetric dye. Dark spots remain where IFNγ-producing cells were originally present on the plate. Data obtained from this assay include spot number, median spot size, and median spot intensity, which are measures of the frequency of IFNγ-producing T cells and the amount of IFNγ per cell. Furthermore, a measure of the magnitude of the response to a CLT antigen can be derived from the stimulation index (SI), which is the specific response, measured as spot number or median spot size, divided by the background response to monocytes without the specific peptide.The evaluation criteria for stimulation intensity are derived by multiplying the stimulation index of spot count by the stimulation index of spot intensity. Using this method, comparison of responses to CLT antigens and control antigens can be used to demonstrate that naive subjects contain a robust repertoire of CLT antigen-reactive T cells, which is enhanced by vaccination with CLT antigen-based immunogenic formulations. Table 4 provides a list of CLT antigen-derived peptides that induced significant CD8 T cell responses from HLA-matched normal blood donors. The results are shown in Figures 33-38. The horizontal bars in the figures represent the mean values ​​of the data. M+T indicates a negative control (monocytes and T cells) without peptide. CEF indicates a positive control (a mixture of 23 CMV, EBV, and influenza peptides). Statistical significance was determined using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the Kruskal-Wallis test, with correction for repeated measurements performed with Dunn's correction. Figure 33 shows significant CD8 T cell responses to an HLA-A*02:01-restricted peptide derived from CLT antigen 1 (CLT001 in the figure) from a normal blood donor. Figure 34 shows a significant CD8 T cell response from a normal blood donor to an HLA-A*0301-restricted peptide derived from CLT antigen 1 (CLT001 in the figure). Figure 35 shows a significant CD8 T cell response from a normal blood donor to an HLA-B*0702-restricted peptide derived from CLT antigen 2 (CLT002 ​​in the figure). Figure 36 shows a significant CD8 T cell response from a normal blood donor to an HLA-A*0301-restricted peptide derived from CLT antigen 3 (CLT003 in the figure). Figure 37 shows a significant CD8 T cell response from a normal blood donor to an HLA-A*0301-restricted peptide derived from CLT antigen 5 (CLT005 in the figure). Figure 38 shows a significant CD8 T cell response from a normal blood donor to an HLA-A*0201-restricted peptide derived from CLT antigen 6 (CLT006 in the figure).

[0228] Table 4: CLT antigen-derived peptides that induce significant CD8 T cell responses from HLA-matched normal blood donors. [Table 4]

[0229] Example 5 - Validation assay in melanoma cells a) qRT-PCR validation of CLT expression in melanoma cell lines Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is a widely used technique for determining the amount of specific transcripts present in RNA extracted from a given biological sample. Specific nucleic acid primer sequences are designed for the transcript of interest, and the region between the primers is subsequently amplified through a series of thermal cycling reactions and fluorescently quantified using an intercalator dye (SYBR Green). Primer pairs were engineered for CLT and assayed against RNA extracted from melanoma cell lines or primary patient tissue. Non-melanoma cell lines were used as negative controls. The melanoma cell lines used included COLO 829 (ATCC Reference No. CRL-1974), MeWo (ATCC Reference No. HTB-65), SH-4 (ATCC Reference No. CRL-7724), and the control cell lines HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma, ATCC Reference No. HB-8065), Jurkat (T-cell leukemia, ATCC Reference No. TIB152), and MCF7 (adenocarcinoma, ATCC Reference No. HTB-22). Patient-derived melanoma tissues were derived from six primary lesions and six metastatic sites, all of which were obtained from patients with at least stage IIC disease. RNA was extracted from each sample and reverse-transcribed to cDNA, following standard procedures. qRT-PCR analysis with SYBR Green detection according to standard techniques was performed using primers designed for two regions of each CLT and a reference gene. Relative quantification (RQ) was calculated as follows: RQ=2[Ct(reference)-Ct(target)] .

[0230] The results of these experiments are shown in Figure 39. Panel A shows the results of a qRT-PCR assay using two primer sets (76+77 and 78+79) targeting different regions of CLT (SEQ ID NO: 24) encoding CLT antigen 2 on RNA extracted from 12 melanoma tissue samples and one non-melanoma cell line. Panel B shows the results of a qRT-PCR assay using two primer sets (44+45 and 46+47) targeting different regions of CLT (SEQ ID NO: 25) encoding CLT antigen 3 on RNA extracted from 12 melanoma tissue samples and one non-melanoma cell line. Panel C shows the results of a qRT-PCR assay using two primer sets (80-81 and 82-83) targeting different regions of CLT (SEQ ID NO: 28) encoding CLT antigen 6 on RNA extracted from 12 melanoma tissue samples and one non-melanoma cell line. These results confirmed the differential expression of CLTs in RNA extracted from melanoma tissue samples compared with non-melanoma cell lines: each CLT was detected in two or more tissue samples analyzed, with little or no expression detected in non-melanoma control cell lines.

[0231] b) RNAScope validation of CLT expression in melanoma cells in situ Transcript expression analysis using in situ hybridization (ISH) allows visualization of the presence and expression level of a given transcript in the histopathological context of a specimen. Traditional RNA ISH assays involve in situ recognition of native RNA molecules using oligonucleotide probes specific to short strands of the desired RNA sequence, which are visualized by a signal generated by a combination of antibody- or enzyme-based colorimetric reactions. RNAScope is a recently developed in situ hybridization-based technology with more advanced probe chemistry, ensuring specificity of the generated signal and enabling highly sensitive, single-molecule visualization of target transcripts (Wang et al., 2012 J Mol Diagn. 14(1):22-29). Positive staining of a transcript molecule results in the appearance of small red dots within a given cell, with multiple dots indicating the presence of multiple transcripts.

[0232] RNAScope probes were designed to CLT and assayed on sections of 12 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cutaneous melanoma tumor cores. Scoring of expression signals was as follows and was performed on representative images from each core: The assessment of % of cells with positive staining for the CLT probe was rounded up to the nearest 10. The estimated per cell level of expression across a given section is: 0 = no staining · 1 = 1-2 dots per cell 2 = 2-6 dots per cell 3 = 6-10 dots per cell · 4 = more than 10 dots per cell.

[0233] Expression of each CLT was detected in tumor cores from multiple different patients, each independently validating the CLT findings from tumor-derived RNA-seq data, confirming expression uniformity within tumor tissue across a given sample, and also highlighting the presence of at least one CLT in each patient core analyzed (Table 5).

[0234] Table 5 - RNAScope scoring within melanoma patient tissue cores [Table 5]

[0235] Throughout this specification and the claims that follow, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term "comprises," and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising," will be understood to mean the inclusion of a stated integer, step, group of integers, or group of steps, but not the exclusion of any other integer, step, group of integers, or group of steps.

[0236] All patents, patent applications and literature references cited in the present specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The present invention includes all combinations of the preferred and more preferred groups, and suitable and more suitable groups and groups of embodiments listed above. The present application provides the following aspects of the invention. (Aspect 1) (a) any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a); An isolated polypeptide comprising a sequence selected from: (Aspect 2) 2. The isolated peptide according to embodiment 1, comprising or consisting of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9 to 22 and 39. (Aspect 3) 1. The isolated polypeptide of embodiment 1 or embodiment 2, (i) one or more other polypeptides according to embodiment 1 or embodiment 2; (ii) other polypeptides that are melanoma-associated antigens; (iii) a polypeptide sequence capable of enhancing an immune response (i.e., an immunostimulatory sequence), and (iv) polypeptide sequences that can provide potent CD4+ help, e.g., including universal CD4 helper epitopes, to increase CD8+ T cell responses to antigenic epitopes; The isolated polypeptide is fused to a second or further polypeptide selected from: (Aspect 4) An isolated nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1 to 3. (Aspect 5) 5. The nucleic acid of embodiment 4, which is DNA. (Aspect 6) A nucleic acid according to aspect 5, comprising or consisting of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 23 to 30 and 31 to 38. (Aspect 7) 7. The nucleic acid of embodiment 6, which is codon optimized for expression in a human host cell. (Aspect 8) 5. The nucleic acid of embodiment 4, which is RNA. (Aspect 9) 9. The nucleic acid of embodiment 4, 5, 7 or 8, which is an artificial nucleic acid sequence. (Aspect 10) A vector comprising the nucleic acid according to any one of aspects 4 to 9. (Aspect 11) 11. The vector of embodiment 10, comprising DNA encoding regulatory elements suitable for permitting transcription of a translationally active RNA molecule in a human host cell. (Aspect 12) 12. The vector of embodiment 10 or embodiment 11, which is a viral vector. (Aspect 13) 13. The vector of embodiment 12, which is an adenovirus vector, an adeno-associated virus (AAV), an alphavirus, a herpesvirus, an arenavirus, a measles virus, a poxvirus, a paramyxovirus, a lentivirus, or a rhabdovirus vector. (Aspect 14) An immunogenic pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide, nucleic acid or vector according to any one of aspects 1 to 13 together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. (Aspect 15) A vaccine composition comprising the polypeptide, nucleic acid or vector according to any one of aspects 1 to 13 together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. (Aspect 16) 16. The composition of embodiment 14 or embodiment 15, comprising one or more immunostimulants. (Aspect 17) 17. The composition of aspect 16, wherein the immunostimulant is selected from aluminum salts, saponins, immunostimulatory oligonucleotides, oil-in-water emulsions, aminoalkyl glucosaminide 4-phosphate, lipopolysaccharides and derivatives thereof and other TLR4 ligands, TLR7 ligands, TLR8 ligands, TLR9 ligands, IL-12, and interferons. (Aspect 18) Aspect 18. The composition of any one of aspects 14 to 17, which is a sterile composition suitable for parenteral administration. (Aspect 19) 19. The polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to any one of aspects 1 to 18 for use in medicine. (Aspect 20) A method of increasing an immune response in a human, the method comprising administering to said human the polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to any one of aspects 1 to 18. (Aspect 21) 21. The method of aspect 20, wherein the immune response is raised against a cancerous tumor expressing a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8, and any one of variants and immunogenic fragments thereof. (Aspect 22) 19. The polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to any one of aspects 1 to 18 for use in raising an immune response in a human. (Aspect 23) 23. The polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to aspect 22, wherein the immune response is raised against a cancerous tumor expressing a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments or variants thereof. (Aspect 24) 19. A method of treating a human patient suffering from cancer, wherein cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, or a method of preventing a human from contracting cancer, wherein the cancer will express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, the method comprising administering to the human a corresponding polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to any one of aspects 1 to 18. (Aspect 25) 19. The polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to any one of Aspects 1 to 18, for use in treating or preventing cancer in a human, wherein cells of the cancer express a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments thereof. (Aspect 26) 19. The polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to any one of Aspects 1 to 18, for use in the ex vivo stimulation and / or expansion of T cells from a human suffering from cancer, wherein the stimulated and / or expanded T cells are subsequently reintroduced into the human to treat the cancer. (Aspect 27) 19. A method for treating cancer in a human, wherein cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, the method comprising removing from the human a population of leukocytes comprising at least T cells, optionally together with antigen-presenting cells; stimulating and / or expanding the T cells in the presence of a corresponding polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to any one of aspects 1 to 18; and reintroducing some or all of the leukocytes, i.e., at least the stimulated and / or expanded T cells, into the human. (Aspect 28) 28. The method, or polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition for use according to any one of aspects 21 and 23 to 27, wherein the cancer is melanoma, for example cutaneous melanoma. (Aspect 29) 19. A process for preparing a T cell population that is cytotoxic against cancer cells expressing a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, the process comprising: (a) obtaining T cells, optionally together with antigen-presenting cells, from a cancer patient; and (ii) stimulating and expanding the T cell population ex vivo with a corresponding polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to any one of aspects 1 to 18. (Aspect 30) 30. A population of T cells obtainable from the process according to embodiment 29. (Aspect 31) A T cell stimulated with the polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to any one of aspects 1 to 18. (Aspect 32) An antigen-presenting cell that has been modified by ex vivo loading with the polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to any one of aspects 1 to 18, or that has been genetically engineered to express the polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1 to 3. (Aspect 33) 33. The antigen-presenting cell of embodiment 32, which is a dendritic cell. (Aspect 34) 19. An exosome loaded with a polypeptide produced from a cell loaded with the polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition according to any one of aspects 1 to 18, or genetically engineered to express the polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1 to 3. (Aspect 35) A pharmaceutical composition comprising the T cell population, T cells, antigen-presenting cells, or exosomes according to any one of aspects 30 to 34, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. (Aspect 36) A T cell population, T cell, antigen-presenting cell, or exosome according to any one of aspects 30 to 34 for use in medicine. (Aspect 37) A method for treating a human suffering from cancer, wherein cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments and variants thereof; or a method for preventing a human from developing cancer, wherein cells of the cancer will express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, the method comprising administering to the human a T cell population, T cell, antigen-presenting cell, exosome or composition according to any one of Aspects 30 to 35. (Aspect 38) A T cell population, T cell, antigen-presenting cell, exosome, or composition according to any one of Aspects 30 to 35, for use in treating or preventing human cancer, wherein cells of the cancer express a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments thereof. (Aspect 39) 39. The T cell population, T cell, antigen-presenting cell, exosome or composition for the process, method or use according to any one of aspects 29, 37 and 38, wherein the cancer is melanoma, such as cutaneous melanoma. (Aspect 40) An isolated antigen-binding polypeptide that is immunospecific for a polypeptide of any one of embodiments 1 to 3. (Aspect 41) 41. The antigen-binding polypeptide of embodiment 40, which is a monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof. (Aspect 42) 42. An antigen-binding polypeptide according to embodiment 40 or embodiment 41, which is conjugated to a cytotoxic moiety. (Aspect 43) 43. An antigen-binding polypeptide according to any one of aspects 40 to 42 for use in medicine. (Aspect 44) A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antigen-binding polypeptide according to any one of aspects 40 to 42, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. (Aspect 45) 45. A method of treating a human suffering from cancer, wherein cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 to 8, and any one of immunogenic fragments and variants thereof; or a method of preventing a human from contracting cancer, wherein cells of the cancer will express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 to 8, and any one of immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, comprising administering to the human an antigen-binding polypeptide or composition of any one of aspects 40 to 42 and 44. (Aspect 46) 45. An antigen-binding polypeptide or composition according to any one of aspects 40 to 42 and 44 for use in treating or preventing cancer in a human, wherein cells of the cancer express a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of their immunogenic fragments. (Aspect 47) 47. The method, antigen-binding polypeptide or composition of embodiment 45 or embodiment 46, wherein the cancer is melanoma, such as cutaneous melanoma. (Aspect 48) An isolated antigen-binding polypeptide immunospecific for an HLA-binding polypeptide that is a polypeptide or part thereof according to any one of aspects 1 to 3. (Aspect 49) 49. The antigen-binding polypeptide of embodiment 48, which is a T-cell receptor or a fragment thereof. (Aspect 50) 50. An antigen-binding polypeptide according to embodiment 48 or embodiment 49, which is conjugated to another polypeptide capable of binding to a cytotoxic cell or other immune component in a subject. (Aspect 51) A cytotoxic cell engineered to express on its surface an antigen-binding polypeptide according to any one of aspects 48 to 50. (Aspect 52) 52. The cytotoxic cell according to embodiment 51, which is a T cell. (Aspect 53) 53. A cytotoxic cell according to embodiment 51 or embodiment 52 for use in medicine. (Aspect 54) 53. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a cell according to embodiment 51 or embodiment 52. (Aspect 55) 53. A method of treating a human patient suffering from cancer, wherein cells of the cancer express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, or a method of preventing a human from developing cancer, wherein the cancer will express a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 to 8 and any one of the immunogenic fragments and variants thereof, the method comprising administering to the human a cell according to aspect 51 or aspect 52. (Aspect 56) 53. The cytotoxic cell of aspect 51 or aspect 52 for use in treating or preventing cancer in a human, wherein cells of the cancer express a corresponding sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of immunogenic fragments thereof. (Aspect 57) 1. A method for diagnosing a human suffering from cancer, comprising: The method includes the steps of determining whether cells of the cancer express a polypeptide sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8 and any one of their immunogenic fragments or variants, or a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide sequence, and diagnosing the human as suffering from cancer if the polypeptide or the corresponding nucleic acid is overexpressed in the cancer cells. (Aspect 58) 1. A method of diagnosing that a human is afflicted with a cancer that is cutaneous melanoma, comprising the steps of determining whether cells of the cancer express a polypeptide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 6 and 7 and immunogenic fragments or variants thereof, or a nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide sequence; diagnosing said human as suffering from cancer that is cutaneous melanoma if said polypeptide or corresponding nucleic acid is overexpressed in said cancer cells. (Aspect 59) 1. A method of diagnosing that a human is afflicted with a cancer that is cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma, comprising the steps of determining whether cells of the cancer express a polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8, and an immunogenic fragment or variant of any one thereof, or a nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide sequence; diagnosing the human as suffering from cancer that is cutaneous melanoma or uveal melanoma if the polypeptide or corresponding nucleic acid is overexpressed in the cancer cells. (Aspect 60) 1. A method of treating a human suffering from cancer, comprising: (a) determining whether cells of the cancer express a polypeptide sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-8 and any one of their immunogenic fragments or variants, or a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide (e.g., selected from the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 23-30 and 31-38); and, if so, (b) administering to the human a corresponding polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector, composition, T cell population, T cell, antigen-presenting cell, exosome, antigen-binding polypeptide, or cytotoxic cell according to any one of aspects 1 to 18, 30 to 35, 40 to 42, 44, 50, 51, and 53; The method comprising: (Aspect 61) isolated from tumors of humans suffering from cancer, (a) any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 8; or (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a); or a nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide as a biomarker for determining whether the human would be suitable for treatment with a vaccine comprising the corresponding polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector, composition, T cell population, T cell, antigen-presenting cell, exosome, antigen-binding polypeptide or cytotoxic cell of any one of aspects 1 to 18, 30 to 35, 40 to 42, 44, 51, 52 and 54. (Aspect 62) 62. The method or use according to embodiment 60 or embodiment 61, wherein the cancer is melanoma, such as cutaneous melanoma. (Aspect 63) The polypeptide is (a) any one of the sequences 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a), for example, the polypeptide comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9 to 15, 18, and 22, for example, the nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 23, 24, 25, 27, and 30, or a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, 33, 35, and 38; and 28. The method, or polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition for use according to any one of aspects 21 and 23 to 27, wherein the cancer is uveal melanoma. (Aspect 64) The polypeptide is (a) the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a), for example, the polypeptide comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9 to 15, 18, and 22, for example, the nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 23, 24, 25, 27, and 30, or a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, 33, 35, and 38; and A method according to aspect 45, or an antigen-binding polypeptide or composition for use according to aspect 46, wherein the cancer is uveal melanoma. (Aspect 65) The polypeptide is (a) the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a), for example, the polypeptide comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9 to 15, 18, and 22, for example, the nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 23, 24, 25, 27, and 30, or a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, 33, 35, and 38; and 49. The T cell population, T cell, antigen-presenting cell, exosome or composition for the process, method or use according to any one of aspects 29, 37 and 38, wherein the cancer is uveal melanoma. (Aspect 66) The polypeptide is (a) the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8; and (b) a variant of the sequence of (a); and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a), for example, the polypeptide comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9 to 15, 18, and 22, for example, the nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 23, 24, 25, 27, and 30, or a sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, 33, 35, and 38; and 62. The method of any one of aspects 60 or 61, wherein the cancer is uveal melanoma.

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Claims

1. (a) the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; and (b) an immunogenic variant of the sequence of (a) that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1 and comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10; and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a) comprising at least 9 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 1; and An isolated polypeptide, wherein the at least 9 consecutive amino acids comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10.

2. 2. The isolated polypeptide of claim 1, comprising or consisting of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10.

3. 3. The isolated polypeptide of claim 1 or claim 2, (i) one or more other polypeptides selected from (x) polypeptides having the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 8 and (y) polypeptides comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11 to 22 and 39; (ii) other polypeptides that are melanoma-associated antigens; (iii) a polypeptide sequence capable of enhancing an immune response, and (iv) a polypeptide sequence capable of providing potent CD4+ help to augment CD8+ T cell responses to antigenic epitopes; The isolated polypeptide is fused to a second or further polypeptide selected from:

4. An isolated nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 4.

6. 10. An immunogenic pharmaceutical or vaccine composition for treating melanoma, comprising the polypeptide, nucleic acid or vector of any one of claims 1 to 5 together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

7. 7. The composition for treating melanoma according to claim 6, for use in increasing the immune response against melanoma in humans.

8. The composition for treating melanoma described in claim 7, wherein the immune response is raised against melanoma expressing a polypeptide having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1, an immunogenic variant comprising at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10, and an immunogenic fragment comprising at least 9 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the at least 9 consecutive amino acids comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10.

9. 7. The composition for treating melanoma according to claim 6, for use in the ex vivo stimulation and / or expansion of T cells from a human suffering from melanoma, wherein the stimulated and / or expanded T cells are subsequently reintroduced into the human to treat the melanoma in the human.

10. A process for preparing a T cell population that is cytotoxic against cancer cells expressing a polypeptide having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1, an immunogenic variant comprising at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10, and an immunogenic fragment comprising at least 9 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 1, the process comprising stimulating and amplifying a T cell population obtained ex vivo from a cancer patient together with antigen-presenting cells with the polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition for treating melanoma described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least 9 consecutive amino acids comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10.

11. A T cell population obtainable from the process of claim 10.

12. A T cell stimulated with the polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition for treating melanoma according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

13. An antigen-presenting cell modified by ex vivo loading with a polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector or composition for treating melanoma described in any one of claims 1 to 6, or genetically engineered to express a polypeptide described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

14. An exosome loaded with a polypeptide that is a full-length antibody containing Fc produced from a cell loaded with the polypeptide according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

15. 4. An isolated antigen-binding polypeptide that is immunospecific for the polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 3.

16. 15. A pharmaceutical composition for treating melanoma, comprising the T cell population, T cell, antigen-presenting cell, or exosome of any one of claims 11 to 14, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

17. An isolated antigen-binding polypeptide immunospecific for an HLA-binding polypeptide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 or 10.

18. 18. The antigen-binding polypeptide of claim 17, which is a T cell receptor or a fragment thereof.

19. A cytotoxic cell engineered to express on its surface an antigen-binding polypeptide of claim 17 or claim 18.

20. 20. A composition for treating melanoma according to claim 6 or 16 for use in medicine.

21. 20. A pharmaceutical composition for treating melanoma, comprising the cells of claim 19.

22. 17. The composition of claim 6 or 16 for use in treating or preventing human melanoma, wherein cells of the melanoma express a polypeptide having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 and an immunogenic fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 comprising at least 9 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the at least 9 consecutive amino acids comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10.

23. isolated from human tumors suffering from melanoma, (a) the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; or (b) an immunogenic variant of the sequence of (a) that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1 and comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10; and (c) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of (a) comprising at least 9 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 1; wherein the at least 9 consecutive amino acids comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10, or the use of a nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide as a biomarker for obtaining data for determining whether the human would be suitable for treatment with a vaccine comprising the polypeptide, nucleic acid, vector, composition, antigen-presenting cell, exosome, or antigen-binding polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 6 and 13 to 16.

24. 23. The composition of any one of claims 7, 8 and 22, wherein the polypeptide comprises a sequence selected from the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 9 and 10.

25. 24. The use or process of claim 10 or 23, wherein the polypeptide comprises a sequence selected from the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 9 and 10.

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