Technologies

Invention novelty: This technology uses autoantigen-derived peptides as novel immunotherapy to prevent and treat cancer.

Technical Details:

Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered that the autoimmune disease scleroderma is triggered by a cancer antigen. A subset of patients who develop scleroderma, a debilitating autoimmune disease, have an elevated risk of developing cancer. These patients harbor autoantibodies to an RNA polymerase subunit. Sequence analysis revealed genetic mutations in tumors from six of eight patients with such autoantibodies but in no tumors from eight control patients who lacked these autoantibodies. Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes and serum suggested that the genetic mutations induced cellular immunity and cross-reactive humoral immune responses. These results support the idea that acquired immunity helps control naturally occurring cancers. Providing patients with peptides derived from these mutant autoimmune antigens may help to activate an adaptive immune response against cancer.

Data Availability: Cellular data

Categories: Therapeutics

Keywords: Cancer vaccine; Immunotherapy; Autoimmune disease; Autoantigens; Peptide