Immunotherapy using human melanoma epitopes recognized by T cells

Tumor reactive T cells can be induced from peripheral blood or tumor infiltrating lymphocytes of patients with melanoma. Based on the analysis of the previous immunotherapies, T cells appeared to be involved in vivo tumor regression. Genes encoding human melanoma antigens and their epitope peptides recognized by T cells, have been identified using cDNA expression cloning techniques. Mechanisms for generation of T cell epitopes on growing melanoma cells have been identified. A variety of Phase I clinical studies using MART- 1 and gp100 antigens are being performed in the Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, and some patients have responded to these immunotherapy protocols.