Cytotoxic T cell immunity against telomerase reverse transcriptase in humans.

ABSTRACT: Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme which has been linked to malignant transformation in human cells. Telomerase activity is increased in the vast majority of human tumors, making its gene product the first molecule common to all human tumors. The generation of endogenously processed telomerase peptides bound to Class I MHC molecules could therefore target cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to tumors of different origins. This could advance vaccine therapy against cancer provided that precursor CTL recognizing telomerase peptides in normal adults and cancer patients can be expanded through immunization. We demonstrate here that the majority of normal individuals and patients with prostate cancer immunized in vitro against two HLA-A2.1 restricted peptides from telomerase reverse transcripta

SUBMITTER: Minev B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC18312 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature