Identification of a Novel P190-Derived Breakpoint Peptide Suitable for Peptide Vaccine Therapeutic Approach in Ph+ Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients

• Published in: Leukemia Research and Treatment Vol. 2012; no. 2012; pp. 38 - 41
• Main Authors: Raspadori, Donatella, Lauria, Francesco, Bocchia, Monica, Ippoliti, Micaela, Gozzetti, Alessandro, Pietrini, Alice, Aprile, Lara, Defina, Marzia, Gozzini, Antonella, Baratè, Claudia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Limiteds 01.01.2012; Hindawi Puplishing Corporation; Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• ISSN: 2090-3219; 2090-3227
• DOI: 10.1155/2012/150651

Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) is a high-risk acute leukemia with poor prognosis, in which the specific t(9;22)(q34;q11) translocation results in a chimeric bcr-abl (e1a2 breakpoint) and in a 190 KD protein (p190) with constitutive tyrosine kinase activity. The advent of first- and second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) improved the short-term outcome of Ph+ ALL patients not eligible for allo-SCT; yet disease recurrence is almost inevitable. Peptides derived from p190-breakpoint area are leukemia-specific antigens that may mediate an antitumor response toward p190+ leukemia cells. We identified one peptide named p190-13 able to induce in vitro peptide-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation in Ph+ ALL patients in complete remission during TKIs. Thus this peptide appears a good candidate for developing an immune target vaccine strategy possibly synergizing with TKIs for remission maintenance.