A novel prostate cancer immunotherapy using prostate-specific antigen peptides and Candida skin test reagent as an adjuvant. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdallah, Al-Ola; Coleman, Hannah; Kamel, Mohamed; Davis, Rodney; Landrum, Teri; Spencer, Horace; Mackintosh, Sam; Mahmoud, Fade A; Milojkovic, Natasa; Wicker, Chester; Arnaoutakis, Konstantinos; Nakagawa, Mayumi
• Is Part Of: SAGE open medicine. Volume 6(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: Prostate-specific antigen -- peptides -- Candida -- Langerhans cells -- prostate cancer; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1177/2050312118800202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-3121

Abstract

Objectives: Our group developed the use of the Candida skin test reagent as an adjuvant of cell-mediated immunity in designing a human papillomavirus therapeutic vaccine. Here, this technology is being applied for designing a prostate cancer immunotherapy. Methods: Peptides based on the prostate-specific antigen amino acid sequences were selected, synthesized, and evaluated in terms of their (1) solubility, (2) maturation effects on Langerhans cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis, and (3) recognition by peripheral immune cells from prostate cancer patients using interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Results: The peptides were soluble in 10 mM succinate at pH of 5 with 5% glycine, and they demonstrated no maturation effects on Langerhans cells from healthy donors. On the other hand, peripheral immune cells from 4 of 10 prostate cancer patients examined had positive responses in enzyme-linked immunospot assay to one or more prostate-specific antigen peptides. Conclusion: In summary, a design and a formulation of a novel prostate cancer immunotherapy are described. The immunogenicity of prostate-specific antigen peptides in some prostate cancer patients supports further development of this immunotherapy.