Combination therapy with neoantigen vaccine (2024)

The present application is filed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § as an U.S. National Phase Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2014/071707, which was filed on Dec. 19, 2014. This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. provisional patent applications 61/919,576, filed Dec. 20, 2013 and 61/976,274, filed on Apr. 7, 2014.

The foregoing applications, and all documents cited therein or during their prosecution (“appln cited documents”) and all documents cited or referenced in the appln cited documents, and all documents cited or referenced herein (“herein cited documents”), and all documents cited or referenced in herein cited documents, together with any manufacturer's instructions, descriptions, product specifications, and product sheets for any products mentioned herein or in any document incorporated by reference herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, and may be employed in the practice of the invention. More specifically, all referenced documents are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

This invention was made with government support under R01 CA155010 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in the invention.

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted electronically in ASCII format and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Jun. 13, 2016, is named 47608.02.2001_SL.txt and is 26,057 bytes in size.

The present invention relates to methods for the treatment of neoplasia, and more particularly tumors, by administering to a subject a neoplasia vaccine comprising a plurality of neoplasia/tumor specific neoantigens and at least one checkpoint inhibitor.

Approximately 1.6 million Americans are diagnosed with neoplasia every year, and approximately 580,000 people in the United States are expected to die of the disease in 2013. Over the past few decades there been significant improvements in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of neoplasia, which have significantly increased the survival rate for many types of neoplasia. However, only about 60% of people diagnosed with neoplasia are still alive 5 years after the onset of treatment, which makes neoplasia the second leading cause of death in the United States.

Currently, there are a number of different existing cancer therapies, including ablation techniques (e.g., surgical procedures, cryogenic/heat treatment, ultrasound, radiofrequency, and radiation) and chemical techniques (e.g., pharmaceutical agents, cytotoxic/chemotherapeutic agents, monoclonal antibodies, and various combinations thereof). Unfortunately, such therapies are frequently associated with serious risk, toxic side effects, and extremely high costs, as well as uncertain efficacy.

There is a growing interest in cancer therapies that seek to target cancerous cells with a patient's own immune system (e.g., cancer vaccines) because such therapies may mitigate/eliminate some of the herein-described disadvantages. Cancer vaccines are typically composed of tumor antigens and immunostimulatory molecules (e.g., cytokines or TLR ligands) that work together to induce antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells that target and destroy tumor cells. Current cancer vaccines typically contain shared tumor antigens, which are native proteins (i.e.—proteins encoded by the DNA of all the normal cells in the individual) that are selectively expressed or over-expressed in tumors found in many individuals. While such shared tumor antigens are useful in identifying particular types of tumors, they are not ideal as immunogens for targeting a T-cell response to a particular tumor type because they are subject to the immune dampening effects of self-tolerance. Vaccines containing tumor-specific and patient-specific neoantigens can overcome some of the disadvantages of vaccines containing shared tumor antigens.

Described in the present application is combination therapy for achieving a desirable therapeutic result, and in particular in treating cancer.

Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.

The present invention relates to neoplasia vaccines or immunogenic compositions administered in combination with one or more other agents, such as one or more checkpoint blockade inhibitors for the treatment or prevention of neoplasia in a subject.

In one aspect, the invention features a method of treating or preventing a neoplasia in a subject in need thereof that may comprise administering to a subject in need thereof (a) a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition; and (b) at least one checkpoint inhibitor. The administering can be serially or sequentially or at substantially the same time or substantially simultaneously. For example, the administering of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and the administering of the at least one checkpoint inhibitor can be at about the same time or substantially simultaneously. Alternatively, the administering of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition can be on one time schedule, e.g., weekly, biweekly, every three weeks, monthly, bimonthly, every quarter year (every three months), every third of a year (every four months), every five months, twice yearly (every six months), every seven months, every eight months, every nine months, every ten months, every eleven months, annually or the like, and the administering of the at least one checkpoint blockade inhibitor can be on a different schedule, typical for the checkpoint blockade inhibitor such that the subject or patient has two different treatment schedules running concomitantly and the administering of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and the administering of the at least one checkpoint inhibitor can be sequentially or serially. The neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition advantageously comprises at least four different neoantigens (and by different antigens it is intended that each antigen has a different neoepitope), e.g., at least 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 or 18 or 19 or 20 or 21 or 22 or 23 or 24 or 25 or 26 or 27 or 28 or 29 or 30 or 31 or 32 or 33 or 34 or 35 or 36 or 37 or 38 or 39 or 40 or more different neoantigens can be in the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition. The neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition can be administered via subcompositions, each containing a portion of the neoantigens, and sub-compositions can be administered to different places on the subject or patient; for instance, a composition comprising 20 different neoantigens, can be administered in four (4) subcompositions, each containing 5 of the 20 different neoantigens, and the four (4) subcompositions can be administered so as to endeavor to deliver each subcomposition at or near a draining lymph node of the patient, e.g., to each of the arms and legs (e.g., thigh or upper thigh or near buttocks or lower back on each side of the patient) so as to endeavor to deliver each subcomposition at or near a draining lymph node of the patient or subject. Of course, the number of locations and hence number of subcompositions can vary, e.g., the skilled practitioner could consider administration at or near the spleen to have a fifth point of administration, and the skilled practitioner can vary the locations such that only one, two or three are used (e.g., each arm and a leg, each of legs and one arm, each of the legs and no arms, or only both arms). The vaccine or immunogenic composition administered at the aforementioned various intervals can be different formulations, and the subcompositions administered at different places on the subject or patient during a single administration can be different compositions. For instance, a first administration can be of a whole antigen vaccine or immunogenic composition and a next or later administration can be of a vector (e.g., viral vector or plasmid) that has expression of antigen(s) in vivo. Likewise, in the administration of different subcompositions to different locations on the patient or subject, some of the subcompositions can comprise a whole antigen and some of the subcompositions can comprise a vector (e.g., viral vector or plasmid) that has expression of antigen(s) in vivo. And some compositions and subcompositions can comprise both vector(s) (e.g., viral vector or plasmid) that has/have expression of antigen(s) in vivo and whole antigens. Some vectors (e.g., poxvirus) that have expression of antigen(s) in vivo can have an immunostimulatory or adjuvanting effect, and hence compositions or subcompositions that contain such vectors can be self-adjuvanting. Also, by changing up the nature of how the antigens are presented to the immune system, the administrations can “prime” and then “boost” the immune system. And in this text, when there is mention of a “vaccine” it is intended that the invention comprehends immunogenic compositions, and when there is mention of a patient or subject it is intended that such an individual is a patient or subject in need of the herein disclosed treatments, administrations, compositions, and generally the subject invention.

In one embodiment, the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition comprises at least two, at least three, at least four or at least five neoantigenic peptides. In another embodiment, the neoantigenic peptide ranges from about 5 to about 50 amino acids in length. In another related embodiment, the neoantigenic peptide ranges from about 15 to about 35 amino acids in length. Typically, the length is greater than about 15 or 20 amino acids, e.g., from 15 to 50 or about 75 amino acids.

In one embodiment, the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition further comprises a pH modifier and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises administration of an immunomodulator or adjuvant (and hence the vaccine or immunogenic composition can include an immunomodulator or adjuvant). In another related embodiment, the immunomodulator or adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of poly-ICLC, 1018 ISS, aluminum salts, Amplivax, AS15, BCG, CP-870,893, CpG7909, CyaA, dSLIM, GM-CSF, IC30, IC31, Imiquimod, ImuFact IMP321, IS Patch, ISS, ISCOMATRIX, JuvImmune, LipoVac, MF59, monophosphoryl lipid A, Montanide IMS 1312, Montanide ISA 206, Montanide ISA 50V, Montanide ISA-51, OK-432, OM-174, OM-197-MP-EC, ONTAK, PEPTEL, vector system, PLGA microparticles, resiquimod, SRL172, Virosomes and other Virus-like particles, YF-17D, VEGF trap, R848, beta-glucan, Pam3Cys, and Aquila's QS21 stimulon. In another further embodiment, the immunomodulator or adjuvant is poly-ICLC.

The dissolution of these polymers in water leads to an acid solution which is neutralized, preferably to physiological pH, in order to give the adjuvant solution into which the vaccine or immunogenic composition or antigen(s) or vector(s) thereof is incorporated. The carboxyl groups of the polymer are then partly in COO⁻.

Preferably, a solution of adjuvant according to the invention, especially of carbomer, is prepared in distilled water, preferably in the presence of sodium chloride, the solution obtained being at acidic pH. This stock solution is diluted by adding it to the required quantity (for obtaining the desired final concentration), or a substantial part thereof, of water charged with salt such as NaCl, preferably physiological saline (NaCl 9 g/l), all at once or in several portions with concomitant or subsequent neutralization (pH 7.3 to 7.4), preferably with a base such as NaOH. This solution at physiological pH is used as is to reconstitute the vaccine, especially stored in freeze-dried or lyophilized form.

The polymer concentration in the final vaccine composition is 0.01% to 2% w/v, more particularly 0.06 to 1% w/v, preferably 0.1 to 0.6% w/v.

Moreover, the invention applies to the use of any type of expression vector, such as a viral expression vector, e.g., poxvirus (e.g., orthopoxvirus or avipoxvirus such as vaccinia virus, including Modified Vaccinia Ankara or MVA, MVA-BN, NYVAC according to WO-A-92/15672, fowlpox, e.g., TROVAX, canarypox, e.g., ALVAC (WO-A-95/27780 and WO-A-92/15672) pigeonpox, swinepox and the like), adenovirus, AAV herpesvirus, and lentivirus; or a plasmid or DNA or nucleic acid molecule vector. Some vectors that are cytoplasmic, such as poxvirus vectors, may be advantageous. However adenovirus, AAV and lentivirus can also be advantageous to use in the practice of the invention.

In a ready-for-use, especially reconstituted, vaccine or immunogenic composition, the vector, e.g., viral vector, is present in the quantities within the ambit of the skilled person from this disclosure and the knowledge in the art (such as in patent and scientific literature cited herein).

Whole antigen or vector, e.g., recombinant live vaccines generally exist in a freeze-dried form allowing their storage and are reconstituted immediately before use in a solvent or excipient, which can include an adjuvant as herein discussed.

The subject of the invention is therefore also a vaccination or immunization set or kit comprising, packaged separately, freeze-dried vaccine and a solution, advantageously including an adjuvant compound as herein discussed for the reconstitution of the freeze-dried vaccine.

The subject of the invention is also a method of vaccination or immunization comprising or consisting essentially of or consisting of administering, e.g., by the parenteral, preferably subcutaneous, intramuscular or intradermal, route or by the mucosal route a vaccine or immunogenic composition in accordance with the invention at the rate of one or more administrations. Optionally this method includes a preliminary step of reconstituting the freeze-dried vaccine or immunogenic composition (e.g., if lyophilized whole antigen or vector) in a solution, advantageously also including an adjuvant.

In one embodiment, the checkpoint inhibitor is an inhibitor of the programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway. In another embodiment, the inhibitor of the PD-1 pathway is an anti-PD1 antibody. In a related embodiment, the inhibitor of the PD-1 pathway is Nivolumab.

In one embodiment, the checkpoint inhibitor is an anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) antibody. In a related embodiment, the anti-CTLA4 antibody is Ipilumumab or Tremelimumab.

In one embodiment, the subject is suffering from a neoplasia selected from the group consisting of: Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC), melanoma, sarcoma, leukemia or a cancer of the bladder, colon, brain, breast, head and neck, endometrium, lung, ovary, pancreas or prostate. In another embodiment, the neoplasia is metastatic. In a further embodiment, the subject has no detectable neoplasia but is at high risk for disease recurrence. In a further related embodiment, the subject has previously undergone autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT).

In one embodiment, administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is initiated before initiation of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition. In one embodiment, administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is initiated after initiation of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition. In one embodiment, administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is initiated simultaneously with the initiation of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition.

In another embodiment, administration of the checkpoint inhibitor continues every 2-8 or more weeks after the first administration of the checkpoint inhibitor. In a further embodiment, administration of the checkpoint inhibitor continues every 2, 3 or 4, 6 or 8 weeks after the first administration of the checkpoint inhibitor. In another further embodiment, the administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is withheld during the week prior to administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition. In still another further embodiment, the administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is withheld during administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition.

In one embodiment, the administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is initiated following tumor resection. In another embodiment, administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition is initiated 1-15 weeks after tumor resection. In another further embodiment, administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition is initiated 4-12 weeks after tumor resection.

In one embodiment, administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition is in a prime/boost dosing regimen. In another embodiment, administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition is at weeks 1, 2, 3 or 4 as a prime. In another further embodiment, administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition is at months 2, 3, 4 or 5 as a boost.

In one embodiment, the vaccine or immunogenic composition is administered at a dose of about 10 μg-1 mg per 70 kg individual as to each neoantigenic peptide. In another embodiment, the vaccine or immunogenic composition is administered at an average weekly dose level of about 10 μg-2000 μg per 70 kg individual as to each neoantigenic peptide. In another further embodiment, the checkpoint inhibitor is administered at a dose of about 0.1-10 mg/kg. In another related embodiment, the administration is intravenous.

In one embodiment, the anti-CTLA4 antibody is administered at a dose of about 1 mg/kg-3 mg/kg.

In one embodiment, the vaccine or immunogenic composition is administered intravenously or subcutaneously.

In another embodiment, the checkpoint inhibitor is administered intravenously or subcutaneously.

In another embodiment, the checkpoint inhibitor is administered subcutaneously within about 2 cm of the site of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition.

In one embodiment, the checkpoint inhibitor is administered at a dose of about 0.1-1 mg per site of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition, per 70 kg individual.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises administration of one or more additional agents. In another embodiment, the additional agents are selected from the group consisting of: chemotherapeutic agents, anti-angiogenesis agents and agents that reduce immune-suppression. In a further embodiment, the one or more additional agents are one or more anti-glucocorticoid induced tumor necrosis factor family receptor (GITR) agonistic antibodies.

In one embodiment the method may comprise administering the combination therapy within a standard of care for a particular cancer. In another embodiment the combination therapy is administered within a standard of care where addition of the combination therapy is synergistic with the steps in the standard of care.

The invention comprehends performing methods as in U.S. patent application No. 20110293637, incorporated herein by reference, e.g., a method of identifying a plurality of at least 4 subject-specific peptides and preparing a subject-specific immunogenic composition that upon administration presents the plurality of at least 4 subject-specific peptides to the subject's immune system, wherein the subject has a tumor and the subject-specific peptides are specific to the subject and the subject's tumor, said method comprising:

(ii) selecting from the identified non-silent mutations the plurality of at least 4 subject-specific peptides, each having a different tumor neo-epitope that is an epitope specific to the tumor of the subject, from the identified plurality of tumor specific mutations,

(iii) formulating the subject-specific immunogenic composition for administration to the subject so that upon administration the plurality of at least 4 subject-specific peptides are presented to the subject's immune system,

i. identifying a mutant peptide having the mutation identified in step (a), wherein said mutant peptide binds to a class I HLA protein with a greater affinity than a wild-type peptide; and has an IC50 less than 500 nm;

c. wherein when said mutation identified in step (a) is a splice-site, frameshift, read-through or gene-fusion mutation:

i. identifying a mutant polypeptide encoded by the mutation identified in step (a), wherein said mutant polypeptide binds to a class I HLA protein; or a method of inducing a tumor specific immune response in a subject comprising administering one or more peptides or polypeptides identified and an adjuvant; or a method of vaccinating or treating a subject for cancer comprising:

a. identifying a plurality of tumor specific mutations in an expressed gene of the subject wherein when said mutation identified is a:

i. point mutation further identifying a mutant peptide having the point mutation; and/or

ii. splice-site, frameshift, read-through or gene-fusion mutation further identifying a mutant polypeptide encoded by the mutation;

b. selecting one or more mutant peptides or polypeptides identified in step (a) that binds to a class I HLA protein;

c. selecting the one or more mutant peptides or polypeptides identified in step (b) that is capable of activating anti-tumor CD8 T-cells; and

d. administering to the subject the one or more peptides or polypeptides, autologous dendritic cells or antigen presenting cells pulsed with the one or more peptides or polypeptides selected in step (c); or preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising one identified peptide(s), and performing method(s) as herein discussed. Thus, the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition herein can be as in U.S. patent application No. 20110293637.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to not encompass within the invention any previously known product, process of making the product, or method of using the product such that Applicants reserve the right and hereby disclose a disclaimer of any previously known product, process, or method. It is further noted that the invention does not intend to encompass within the scope of the invention any product, process, or making of the product or method of using the product, which does not meet the written description and enablement requirements of the USPTO (35 U.S.C. § 112, first paragraph) or the EPO (Article 83 of the EPC), such that Applicants reserve the right and hereby disclose a disclaimer of any previously described product, process of making the product, or method of using the product.

It is noted that in this disclosure and particularly in the claims and/or paragraphs, terms such as “comprises”, “comprised”, “comprising” and the like can have the meaning attributed to it in U.S. Patent law; e.g., they can mean “includes”, “included”, “including”, and the like; and that terms such as “consisting essentially of” and “consists essentially of” have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. Patent law, e.g., they allow for elements not explicitly recited, but exclude elements that are found in the prior art or that affect a basic or novel characteristic of the invention.

These and other embodiments are disclosed or are obvious from and encompassed by, the following Detailed Description.

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) is provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

The following detailed description, given by way of example, but not intended to limit the invention solely to the specific embodiments described, may best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, incorporated herein by reference, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a flow process for making a personalized cancer vaccine or immunogenic composition.

FIG. 2 shows a flow process for pre-treatment steps for generating a cancer vaccine or immunogenic composition for a melanoma patient.

FIG. 3 illustrates an immunization schedule based on a prime boost strategy according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a time line indicating the primary immunological endpoint according to an exemplary aspect of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a time line for administering a co-therapy with checkpoint blockade antibodies to evaluate the combination of relief of local immune suppression coupled with the stimulation of new immunity according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in the scheme, patients who enter as appropriate candidates for checkpoint blockade therapy, e.g., anti-PDL1 as shown here, may be entered and immediately treated with antibody, while the vaccine or immunogenic composition is being prepared. Patients may then be vaccinated. Checkpoint blockade antibody dosing can be continued or possibly deferred while the priming phase of vaccination occurs.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic depicting drug product processing of individual neoantigenic peptides into pools of 4 subgroups according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows the results of quantitative PCR to assess the levels of induction of a number of key immune markers after stimulation of mouse dendritic cells using a neoantigenic formulation.

FIG. 8 is a schematic outline of study 1: Nivolumab vs Nivolumab and NeoVax following AHSCT in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

FIG. 9 is a schematic outline of study 2: Nivolumab and NeoVax in metastatic melanoma and metastatic RCC.

FIG. 10A-D are schematics of four studies. (A) Study 3a shows dose escalation of reduced intensity intravenous Ipilimumab in metastatic melanoma. (B) Study 3b shows dose escalation of sub-cutaneous Ipilimumab (Local) in metastatic melanoma. (C) Study 3c shows dose escalation of reduced intensity intravenous Ipilimumab in high-risk Melanoma. (D) Study 3d shows dose escalation of sub-cutaneous Ipilimumab (Local) in high-risk melanoma.

FIG. 11 illustrates a study scheme combining NeoVax and Ipilimumab to treat high-risk renal cell carcinoma.

FIG. 12 illustrates a treatment scheme for a study combining NeoVax and Ipilimumab to treat high-risk renal cell carcinoma.

To facilitate an understanding of the present invention, a number of terms and phrases are defined herein:

Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “about” is understood as within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example within 2 standard deviations of the mean. About can be understood as within 50%, 45%, 40%, 35%, 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from context, all numerical values provided herein are modified by the term about.

Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “or” is understood to be inclusive. Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are understood to be singular or plural.

By “agent” is meant any small molecule chemical compound, antibody, nucleic acid molecule, or polypeptide, or fragments thereof.

Immune checkpoints are inhibitory pathways that slow down or stop immune reactions and prevent excessive tissue damage from uncontrolled activity of immune cells. By “checkpoint inhibitor” is meant to refer to any small molecule chemical compound, antibody, nucleic acid molecule, or polypeptide, or fragments thereof, that inhibits the inhibitory pathways, allowing more extensive immune activity. In certain embodiments, the checkpoint inhibitor is an inhibitor of the programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway, for example an anti-PD1 antibody, such as, but not limited to Nivolumab. In other embodiments, the checkpoint inhibitor is an anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA-4) antibody. In additional embodiments, the checkpoint inhibitor is targeted at another member of the CD28CTLA4 Ig superfamily such as BTLA, LAG3, ICOS, PDL1 or KIR Page et al., Annual Review of Medicine 65:27 (2014)). In further additional embodiments, the checkpoint inhibitor is targeted at a member of the TNFR superfamily such as CD40, OX40, CD137, GITR, CD27 or TIM-3. In some cases targeting a checkpoint inhibitor is accomplished with an inhibitory antibody or similar molecule. In other cases, it is accomplished with an agonist for the target; examples of this class include the stimulatory targets OX40 and GITR.

The term “combination” embraces the administration of a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition (e.g. a pooled sample of neoplasia/tumor specific neoantigens) and one or more checkpoint inhibitors, as part of a treatment regimen intended to provide a beneficial (additive or synergistic) effect from the co-action of one or more of these therapeutic agents. The combination may also include one or more additional agents, for example, but not limited to, chemotherapeutic agents, anti-angiogenesis agents and agents that reduce immune-suppression. The beneficial effect of the combination includes, but is not limited to, pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic co-action resulting from the combination of therapeutic agents. Administration of these therapeutic agents in combination typically is carried out over a defined time period (for example, minutes, hours, days, or weeks depending upon the combination selected).

“Combination therapy” is intended to embrace administration of these therapeutic agents in a sequential manner, that is, wherein each therapeutic agent is administered at a different time, as well as administration of these therapeutic agents, or at least two of the therapeutic agents, in a substantially simultaneous manner. Substantially simultaneous administration can be accomplished, for example, by administering to the subject a single capsule having a fixed ratio of each therapeutic agent or in multiple, single capsules for each of the therapeutic agents. For example, one combination of the present invention may comprise a pooled sample of tumor specific neoantigens and a checkpoint inhibitor administered at the same or different times, or they can be formulated as a single, co-formulated pharmaceutical composition comprising the two compounds. As another example, a combination of the present invention (e.g., a pooled sample of tumor specific neoantigens and a checkpoint inhibitor and/or an anti-CTLA4 antibody) may be formulated as separate pharmaceutical compositions that can be administered at the same or different time. As used herein, the term “simultaneously” is meant to refer to administration of one or more agents at the same time. For example, in certain embodiments, a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and a checkpoint inhibitor are administered simultaneously. Simultaneously includes administration contemporaneously, that is during the same period of time. In certain embodiments, the one or more agents are administered simultaneously in the same hour, or simultaneously in the same day. Sequential or substantially simultaneous administration of each therapeutic agent can be effected by any appropriate route including, but not limited to, oral routes, intravenous routes, sub-cutaneous routes, intramuscular routes, direct absorption through mucous membrane tissues (e.g., nasal, mouth, vaginal, and rectal), and ocular routes (e.g., intravitreal, intraocular, etc.). The therapeutic agents can be administered by the same route or by different routes. For example, one component of a particular combination may be administered by intravenous injection while the other component(s) of the combination may be administered orally. The components may be administered in any therapeutically effective sequence. The phrase “combination” embraces groups of compounds or non-drug therapies useful as part of a combination therapy.

The term “neoantigen” or “neoantigenic” means a class of tumor antigens that arises from a tumor-specific mutation(s) which alters the amino acid sequence of genome encoded proteins.

By “neoplasia” is meant any disease that is caused by or results in inappropriately high levels of cell division, inappropriately low levels of apoptosis, or both. For example, cancer is an example of a neoplasia. Examples of cancers include, without limitation, leukemia (e.g., acute leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia, acute myelomonocytic leukemia, acute monocytic leukemia, acute erythroleukemia, chronic leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia), polycythemia vera, lymphoma (e.g., Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's disease), Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, heavy chain disease, and solid tumors such as sarcomas and carcinomas (e.g., fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, colon carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas, cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, hepatoma, nile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilm's tumor, cervical cancer, uterine cancer, testicular cancer, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, hemangioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, oligodenroglioma, schwannoma, meningioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, and retinoblastoma). Lymphoproliferative disorders are also considered to be proliferative diseases.

The term “neoplasia vaccine” is meant to refer to a pooled sample of neoplasia/tumor specific neoantigens, for example at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, or more neoantigenic peptides. A “vaccine” is to be understood as meaning a composition for generating immunity for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of diseases (e.g., neoplasia/tumor). Accordingly, vaccines are medicaments which comprise antigens and are intended to be used in humans or animals for generating specific defense and protective substance by vaccination. A “neoplasia vaccine composition” can include a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier or diluent.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” refers to approved or approvable by a regulatory agency of the Federal or a state government or listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia or other generally recognized pharmacopeia for use in animals, including humans.

A “pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier or diluent” refers to an excipient, carrier or diluent that can be administered to a subject, together with an agent, and which does not destroy the pharmacological activity thereof and is nontoxic when administered in doses sufficient to deliver a therapeutic amount of the agent.

A “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” of pooled tumor specific neoantigens as recited herein may be an acid or base salt that is generally considered in the art to be suitable for use in contact with the tissues of human beings or animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication. Such salts include mineral and organic acid salts of basic residues such as amines, as well as alkali or organic salts of acidic residues such as carboxylic acids. Specific pharmaceutical salts include, but are not limited to, salts of acids such as hydrochloric, phosphoric, hydrobromic, malic, glycolic, fumaric, sulfuric, sulfamic, sulfanilic, formic, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, benzene sulfonic, ethane disulfonic, 2-hydroxyethylsulfonic, nitric, benzoic, 2-acetoxybenzoic, citric, tartaric, lactic, stearic, salicylic, glutamic, ascorbic, pamoic, succinic, fumaric, maleic, propionic, hydroxymaleic, hydroiodic, phenylacetic, alkanoic such as acetic, HOOC—(CH2)n-COOH where n is 0-4, and the like. Similarly, pharmaceutically acceptable cations include, but are not limited to sodium, potassium, calcium, aluminum, lithium and ammonium. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize from this disclosure and the knowledge in the art that further pharmaceutically acceptable salts for the pooled tumor specific neoantigens provided herein, including those listed by Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17th ed., Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., p. 1418 (1985). In general, a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base salt can be synthesized from a parent compound that contains a basic or acidic moiety by any conventional chemical method. Briefly, such salts can be prepared by reacting the free acid or base forms of these compounds with a stoichiometric amount of the appropriate base or acid in an appropriate solvent.

By a “polypeptide” or “peptide” is meant a polypeptide that has been separated from components that naturally accompany it. Typically, the polypeptide is isolated when it is at least 60%, by weight, free from the proteins and naturally-occurring organic molecules with which it is naturally associated. Preferably, the preparation is at least 75%, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 99%, by weight, a polypeptide. An isolated polypeptide may be obtained, for example, by extraction from a natural source, by expression of a recombinant nucleic acid encoding such a polypeptide; or by chemically synthesizing the protein. Purity can be measured by any appropriate method, for example, column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or by HPLC analysis.

As used herein, the terms “prevent,” “preventing,” “prevention,” “prophylactic treatment,” and the like, refer to reducing the probability of developing a disease or condition in a subject, who does not have, but is at risk of or susceptible to developing a disease or condition.

The term “prime/boost” or “prime/boost dosing regimen” is meant to refer to the successive administrations of a vaccine or immunogenic or immunological compositions. The priming administration (priming) is the administration of a first vaccine or immunogenic or immunological composition type and may comprise one, two or more administrations. The boost administration is the second administration of a vaccine or immunogenic or immunological composition type and may comprise one, two or more administrations, and, for instance, may comprise or consist essentially of annual administrations. In certain embodiments, administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition is in a prime/boost dosing regimen.

Ranges provided herein are understood to be shorthand for all of the values within the range. For example, a range of 1 to 50 is understood to include any number, combination of numbers, or sub-range from the group consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50, as well as all intervening decimal values between the aforementioned integers such as, for example, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9. With respect to sub-ranges, “nested sub-ranges” that extend from either end point of the range are specifically contemplated. For example, a nested sub-range of an exemplary range of 1 to 50 may comprise 1 to 10, 1 to 20, 1 to 30, and 1 to 40 in one direction, or 50 to 40, 50 to 30, 50 to 20, and 50 to 10 in the other direction.

A “receptor” is to be understood as meaning a biological molecule or a molecule grouping capable of binding a ligand. A receptor may serve, to transmit information in a cell, a cell formation or an organism. The receptor comprises at least one receptor unit and frequently contains two or more receptor units, where each receptor unit may consist of a protein molecule, in particular a glycoprotein molecule. The receptor has a structure that complements the structure of a ligand and may complex the ligand as a binding partner. Signaling information may be transmitted by conformational changes of the receptor following binding with the ligand on the surface of a cell. According to the invention, a receptor may refer to particular proteins of MHC classes I and II capable of forming a receptor/ligand complex with a ligand, in particular a peptide or peptide fragment of suitable length.

The term “subject” refers to an animal which is the object of treatment, observation, or experiment. By way of example only, a subject includes, but is not limited to, a mammal, including, but not limited to, a human or a non-human mammal, such as a non-human primate, bovine, equine, canine, ovine, or feline.

The terms “treat,” “treated,” “treating,” “treatment,” and the like are meant to refer to reducing or ameliorating a disorder and/or symptoms associated therewith (e.g., a neoplasia or tumor). “Treating” may refer to administration of the combination therapy to a subject after the onset, or suspected onset, of a cancer. “Treating” includes the concepts of “alleviating”, which refers to lessening the frequency of occurrence or recurrence, or the severity, of any symptoms or other ill effects related to a cancer and/or the side effects associated with cancer therapy. The term “treating” also encompasses the concept of “managing” which refers to reducing the severity of a particular disease or disorder in a patient or delaying its recurrence, e.g., lengthening the period of remission in a patient who had suffered from the disease. It is appreciated that, although not precluded, treating a disorder or condition does not require that the disorder, condition, or symptoms associated therewith be completely eliminated.

The term “therapeutic effect” refers to some extent of relief of one or more of the symptoms of a disorder (e.g., a neoplasia or tumor) or its associated pathology. “Therapeutically effective amount” as used herein refers to an amount of an agent which is effective, upon single or multiple dose administration to the cell or subject, in prolonging the survivability of the patient with such a disorder, reducing one or more signs or symptoms of the disorder, preventing or delaying, and the like beyond that expected in the absence of such treatment. “Therapeutically effective amount” is intended to qualify the amount required to achieve a therapeutic effect. A physician or veterinarian having ordinary skill in the art can readily determine and prescribe the “therapeutically effective amount” (e.g., ED50) of the pharmaceutical composition required. For example, the physician or veterinarian could start doses of the compounds of the invention employed in a pharmaceutical composition at levels lower than that required in order to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and gradually increase the dosage until the desired effect is achieved.

The recitation of a listing of chemical groups in any definition of a variable herein includes definitions of that variable as any single group or combination of listed groups. The recitation of an embodiment for a variable or aspect herein includes that embodiment as any single embodiment or in combination with any other embodiments or portions thereof.

Any compositions or methods provided herein can be combined with one or more of any of the other compositions and methods provided herein.

The combination therapy disclosed herein constitutes a new method for treating various types of cancer. The combination therapy described herein also provides a method of therapy for achieving clinical benefit without an unacceptable level of side effects.

The present invention relates to methods for the treatment of neoplasia, and more particularly tumors, by administering to a subject a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition comprising a plurality of neoplasia/tumor specific neoantigens and at least one checkpoint inhibitor.

As described in more detail herein, whole genome/exome sequencing may be used to identify all, or nearly all, mutated neoantigens that are uniquely present in a neoplasia/tumor of an individual patient, and that this collection of mutated neoantigens may be analyzed to identify a specific, optimized subset of neoantigens for use as a personalized cancer vaccine or immunogenic composition for treatment of the patient's neoplasia/tumor. For example, a population of neoplasia/tumor specific neoantigens may be identified by sequencing the neoplasia/tumor and normal DNA of each patient to identify tumor-specific mutations, and the patient's HLA allotype can be identified. The population of neoplasia/tumor specific neoantigens and their cognate native antigens may then be subject to bioinformatic analysis using validated algorithms to predict which tumor-specific mutations create epitopes that could bind to the patient's HLA allotype. Based on this analysis, a plurality of peptides corresponding to a subset of these mutations may be designed and synthesized for each patient, and pooled together for use as a cancer vaccine or immunogenic composition in immunizing the patient.

The immune system can be classified into two functional subsystems: the innate and the acquired immune system. The innate immune system is the first line of defense against infections, and most potential pathogens are rapidly neutralized by this system before they can cause, for example, a noticeable infection. The acquired immune system reacts to molecular structures, referred to as antigens, of the intruding organism. There are two types of acquired immune reactions, which include the humoral immune reaction and the cell-mediated immune reaction. In the humoral immune reaction, antibodies secreted by B cells into bodily fluids bind to pathogen-derived antigens, leading to the elimination of the pathogen through a variety of mechanisms, e.g. complement-mediated lysis. In the cell-mediated immune reaction, T-cells capable of destroying other cells are activated. For example, if proteins associated with a disease are present in a cell, they are fragmented proteolytically to peptides within the cell. Specific cell proteins then attach themselves to the antigen or peptide formed in this manner and transport them to the surface of the cell, where they are presented to the molecular defense mechanisms, in particular T-cells, of the body. Cytotoxic T cells recognize these antigens and kill the cells that harbor the antigens.

The molecules that transport and present peptides on the cell surface are referred to as proteins of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). MHC proteins are classified into two types, referred to as MHC class I and MHC class II. The structures of the proteins of the two MHC classes are very similar; however, they have very different functions. Proteins of MHC class I are present on the surface of almost all cells of the body, including most tumor cells. MHC class I proteins are loaded with antigens that usually originate from endogenous proteins or from pathogens present inside cells, and are then presented to naïve or cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs). MHC class II proteins are present on dendritic cells, B-lymphocytes, macrophages and other antigen-presenting cells. They mainly present peptides, which are processed from external antigen sources, i.e. outside of the cells, to T-helper (Th) cells. Most of the peptides bound by the MHC class I proteins originate from cytoplasmic proteins produced in the healthy host cells of an organism itself, and do not normally stimulate an immune reaction. Accordingly, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes that recognize such self-peptide-presenting MHC molecules of class I are deleted in the thymus (central tolerance) or, after their release from the thymus, are deleted or inactivated, i.e. tolerized (peripheral tolerance). MHC molecules are capable of stimulating an immune reaction when they present peptides to non-tolerized T-lymphocytes. Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes have both T-cell receptors (TCR) and CD8 molecules on their surface. T-Cell receptors are capable of recognizing and binding peptides complexed with the molecules of MHC class I. Each cytotoxic T-lymphocyte expresses a unique T-cell receptor which is capable of binding specific MHC/peptide complexes.

The peptide antigens attach themselves to the molecules of MHC class I by competitive affinity binding within the endoplasmic reticulum, before they are presented on the cell surface. Here, the affinity of an individual peptide antigen is directly linked to its amino acid sequence and the presence of specific binding motifs in defined positions within the amino acid sequence. If the sequence of such a peptide is known, it is possible to manipulate the immune system against diseased cells using, for example, peptide vaccines.

As described herein, there is a large body of evidence in both animals and humans that mutated epitopes are effective in inducing an immune response and that cases of spontaneous tumor regression or long term survival correlate with CD8+ T-cell responses to mutated epitopes (Buckwalter and Srivastava PK. “It is the antigen(s), stupid” and other lessons from over a decade of vaccitherapy of human cancer. Seminars in immunology 20:296-300 (2008); Karanikas et al, High frequency of cytolytic T lymphocytes directed against a tumor-specific mutated antigen detectable with HLA tetramers in the blood of a lung carcinoma patient with long survival. Cancer Res. 61:3718-3724 (2001); Lennerz et al, The response of autologous T cells to a human melanoma is dominated by mutated neoantigens. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 102:16013 (2005)) and that “immunoediting” can be tracked to alterations in expression of dominant mutated antigens in mice and man (Matsushita et al, Cancer exome analysis reveals a T-cell-dependent mechanism of cancer immunoediting Nature 482:400 (2012); DuPage et al, Expression of tumor-specific antigens underlies cancer immunoediting Nature 482:405 (2012); and Sampson et al, Immunologic escape after prolonged progression-free survival with epidermal growth factor receptor variant III peptide vaccination in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma J Clin Oncol. 28:4722-4729 (2010)). In one embodiment, the mutated epitopes of a cancer patient are determined.

In one embodiment mutated epitopes are determined by sequencing the genome and/or exome of tumor tissue and healthy tissue from a cancer patient using next generation sequencing technologies. In another embodiment genes that are selected based on their frequency of mutation and ability to act as a neoantigen are sequenced using next generation sequencing technology. Next-generation sequencing applies to genome sequencing, genome resequencing, transcriptome profiling (RNA-Seq), DNA-protein interactions (ChIP-sequencing), and epigenome characterization (de Magalhies J P, Finch C E, Janssens G (2010). “Next-generation sequencing in aging research: emerging applications, problems, pitfalls and possible solutions”. Ageing Research Reviews 9 (3): 315-323; Hall N (May 2007). “Advanced sequencing technologies and their wider impact in microbiology”. J. Exp. Biol. 209 (Pt 9): 1518-1525; Church G M (January 2006). “Genomes for all”. Sci. Am. 294 (1): 46-54; ten Bosch J R, Grody W W (2008). “Keeping Up with the Next Generation”. The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 10 (6): 484-492; Tucker T, Marra M, Friedman J M (2009). “Massively Parallel Sequencing: The Next Big Thing in Genetic Medicine”. The American Journal of Human Genetics 85 (2): 142-154). Next-generation sequencing can now rapidly reveal the presence of discrete mutations such as coding mutations in individual tumors, most commonly single amino acid changes (e.g., missense mutations) and less frequently novel stretches of amino acids generated by frame-shift insertions/deletions/gene fusions, read-through mutations in stop codons, and translation of improperly spliced introns (e.g., neoORFs). NeoORFs are particularly valuable as immunogens because the entirety of their sequence is completely novel to the immune system and so are analogous to a viral or bacterial foreign antigen. Thus, neoORFs: (1) are highly specific to the tumor (i.e. there is no expression in any normal cells); (2) can bypass central tolerance, thereby increasing the precursor frequency of neoantigen-specific CTLs. For example, the power of utilizing analogous foreign sequences in a therapeutic anti-cancer vaccine or immunogenic composition was recently demonstrated with peptides derived from human papilloma virus (HPV). ˜50% of the 19 patients with pre-neoplastic, viral-induced disease who received 3-4 vaccinations of a mix of HPV peptides derived from the viral oncogenes E6 and E7 maintained a complete response for ≥24 months (Kenter et a, Vaccination against HPV-16 Oncoproteins for Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia NEJM 361:1838 (2009)).

Sequencing technology has revealed that each tumor contains multiple, patient-specific mutations that alter the protein coding content of a gene. Such mutations create altered proteins, ranging from single amino acid changes (caused by missense mutations) to addition of long regions of novel amino acid sequence due to frame shifts, read-through of termination codons or translation of intron regions (novel open reading frame mutations; neoORFs). These mutated proteins are valuable targets for the host's immune response to the tumor as, unlike native proteins, they are not subject to the immune-dampening effects of self-tolerance. Therefore, mutated proteins are more likely to be immunogenic and are also more specific for the tumor cells compared to normal cells of the patient.

An alternative method for identifying tumor specific neoantigens is direct protein sequencing. Protein sequencing of enzymatic digests using multidimensional MS techniques (MSn) including tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)) can also be used to identify neoantigens of the invention. Such proteomic approaches permit rapid, highly automated analysis (see, e.g., K. Gevaert and J. Vandekerckhove, Electrophoresis 21:1145-1154 (2000)). It is further contemplated within the scope of the invention that high-throughput methods for de novo sequencing of unknown proteins may be used to analyze the proteome of a patient's tumor to identify expressed neoantigens. For example, meta shotgun protein sequencing may be used to identify expressed neoantigens (see e.g., Guthals et al. (2012) Shotgun Protein Sequencing with Meta-contig Assembly, Molecular and Cellular Proteomics 11(10):1084-96).

Tumor specific neoantigens may also be identified using MHC multimers to identify neoantigen-specific T-cell responses. For example, high-throughput analysis of neoantigen-specific T-cell responses in patient samples may be performed using MHC tetramer-based screening techniques (see e.g., Hombrink et al. (2011) High-Throughput Identification of Potential Minor Histocompatibility Antigens by MHC Tetramer-Based Screening: Feasibility and Limitations 6(8):1-11; Hadrup et al. (2009) Parallel detection of antigen-specific T-cell responses by multidimensional encoding of MHC multimers, Nature Methods, 6(7):520-26; van Rooij et al. (2013) Tumor exome analysis reveals neoantigen-specific T-cell reactivity in an Ipilimumab-responsive melanoma, Journal of Clinical Oncology, 31:1-4; and Heemskerk et al. (2013) The cancer antigenome, EMBO Journal, 32(2):194-203). Such tetramer-based screening techniques may be used for the initial identification of tumor specific neoantigens, or alternatively as a secondary screening protocol to assess what neoantigens a patient may have already been exposed to, thereby facilitating the selection of candidate neoantigens for the invention.

In one embodiment the sequencing data derived from determining the presence of mutations in a cancer patient is analysed to predict personal mutated peptides that can bind to HLA molecules of the individual. In one embodiment the data is analysed using a computer. In another embodiment the sequence data is analysed for the presence of neoantigens. In one embodiment neoantigens are determined by their affinity to MHC molecules. Efficiently choosing which particular mutations to utilize as immunogen requires identification of the patient HLA type and the ability to predict which mutated peptides would efficiently bind to the patient's HLA alleles. Recently, neural network based learning approaches with validated binding and non-binding peptides have advanced the accuracy of prediction algorithms for the major HLA-A and -B alleles. Utilizing the recently improved algorithms for predicting which missense mutations create strong binding peptides to the patient's cognate MHC molecules, a set of peptides representative of optimal mutated epitopes (both neoORF and missense) for each patient may be identified and prioritized (Zhang et al, Machine learning competition in immunology—Prediction of HLA class I binding peptides J Immunol Methods 374:1 (2011); Lundegaard et al Prediction of epitopes using neural network based methods J Immunol Methods 374:26 (2011)).

Targeting as many mutated epitopes as practically possible takes advantage of the enormous capacity of the immune system, prevents the opportunity for immunological escape by down-modulation of a particular immune targeted gene product, and compensates for the known inaccuracy of epitope prediction approaches. Synthetic peptides provide a particularly useful means to prepare multiple immunogens efficiently and to rapidly translate identification of mutant epitopes to an effective vaccine or immunogenic composition. Peptides can be readily synthesized chemically and easily purified utilizing reagents free of contaminating bacteria or animal substances. The small size allows a clear focus on the mutated region of the protein and also reduces irrelevant antigenic competition from other components (unmutated protein or viral vector antigens).

In one embodiment the drug formulation is a multi-epitope vaccine or immunogenic composition of long peptides. Such “long” peptides undergo efficient internalization, processing and cross-presentation in professional antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells, and have been shown to induce CTLs in humans (Melief and van der Burg, Immunotherapy of established (pre) malignant disease by synthetic long peptide vaccines Nature Rev Cancer 8:351 (2008)). In one embodiment at least 1 peptide is prepared for immunization. In a preferred embodiment 20 or more peptides are prepared for immunization. In one embodiment the neoantigenic peptide ranges from about 5 to about 50 amino acids in length. In another embodiment peptides from about 15 to about 35 amino acids in length is synthesized. In preferred embodiment the neoantigenic peptide ranges from about 20 to about 35 amino acids in length.

Production of Tumor Specific Neoantigens

The present invention is based, at least in part, on the ability to present the immune system of the patient with a pool of tumor specific neoantigens. One of skill in the art from this disclosure and the knowledge in the art will appreciate that there are a variety of ways in which to produce such tumor specific neoantigens. In general, such tumor specific neoantigens may be produced either in vitro or in vivo. Tumor specific neoantigens may be produced in vitro as peptides or polypeptides, which may then be formulated into a personalized neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and administered to a subject. As described in further detail herein, such in vitro production may occur by a variety of methods known to one of skill in the art such as, for example, peptide synthesis or expression of a peptide/polypeptide from a DNA or RNA molecule in any of a variety of bacterial, eukaryotic, or viral recombinant expression systems, followed by purification of the expressed peptide/polypeptide. Alternatively, tumor specific neoantigens may be produced in vivo by introducing molecules (e.g., DNA, RNA, viral expression systems, and the like) that encode tumor specific neoantigens into a subject, whereupon the encoded tumor specific neoantigens are expressed. The methods of in vitro and in vivo production of neoantigens is also further described herein as it relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods of delivery of the combination therapy.

In Vitro Peptide/Polypeptide Synthesis

Proteins or peptides may be made by any technique known to those of skill in the art, including the expression of proteins, polypeptides or peptides through standard molecular biological techniques, the isolation of proteins or peptides from natural sources, in vitro translation, or the chemical synthesis of proteins or peptides. The nucleotide and protein, polypeptide and peptide sequences corresponding to various genes have been previously disclosed, and may be found at computerized databases known to those of ordinary skill in the art. One such database is the National Center for Biotechnology Information's Genbank and GenPept databases located at the National Institutes of Health website. The coding regions for known genes may be amplified and/or expressed using the techniques disclosed herein or as would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, various commercial preparations of proteins, polypeptides and peptides are known to those of skill in the art.

Peptides can be readily synthesized chemically utilizing reagents that are free of contaminating bacterial or animal substances (Merrifield R B: Solid phase peptide synthesis. I. The synthesis of a tetrapeptide. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149-54, 1963). In certain embodiments, neoantigenic peptides are prepared by (1) parallel solid-phase synthesis on multi-channel instruments using uniform synthesis and cleavage conditions; (2) purification over a RP-HPLC column with column stripping; and re-washing, but not replacement, between peptides; followed by (3) analysis with a limited set of the most informative assays. The Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) footprint can be defined around the set of peptides for an individual patient, thus requiring suite changeover procedures only between syntheses of peptides for different patients.

Alternatively, a nucleic acid (e.g., a polynucleotide) encoding a neoantigenic peptide of the invention may be used to produce the neoantigenic peptide in vitro. The polynucleotide may be, e.g., DNA, cDNA, PNA, CNA, RNA, either single- and/or double-stranded, or native or stabilized forms of polynucleotides, such as e.g. polynucleotides with a phosphorothiate backbone, or combinations thereof and it may or may not contain introns so long as it codes for the peptide. In one embodiment in vitro translation is used to produce the peptide. Many exemplary systems exist that one skilled in the art could utilize (e.g., Retic Lysate IVT Kit, Life Technologies, Waltham, Mass.).

An expression vector capable of expressing a polypeptide can also be prepared. Expression vectors for different cell types are well known in the art and can be selected without undue experimentation. Generally, the DNA is inserted into an expression vector, such as a plasmid, in proper orientation and correct reading frame for expression. If necessary, the DNA may be linked to the appropriate transcriptional and translational regulatory control nucleotide sequences recognized by the desired host (e.g., bacteria), although such controls are generally available in the expression vector. The vector is then introduced into the host bacteria for cloning using standard techniques (see, e.g., Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.).

Expression vectors comprising the isolated polynucleotides, as well as host cells containing the expression vectors, are also contemplated. The neoantigenic peptides may be provided in the form of RNA or cDNA molecules encoding the desired neoantigenic peptides. One or more neoantigenic peptides of the invention may be encoded by a single expression vector.

The term “polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide” encompasses a polynucleotide which includes only coding sequences for the polypeptide as well as a polynucleotide which includes additional coding and/or non-coding sequences. Polynucleotides can be in the form of RNA or in the form of DNA. DNA includes cDNA, genomic DNA, and synthetic DNA; and can be double-stranded or single-stranded, and if single stranded can be the coding strand or non-coding (anti-sense) strand.

In embodiments, the polynucleotides may comprise the coding sequence for the tumor specific neoantigenic peptide fused in the same reading frame to a polynucleotide which aids, for example, in expression and/or secretion of a polypeptide from a host cell (e.g., a leader sequence which functions as a secretory sequence for controlling transport of a polypeptide from the cell). The polypeptide having a leader sequence is a preprotein and can have the leader sequence cleaved by the host cell to form the mature form of the polypeptide.

In embodiments, the polynucleotides can comprise the coding sequence for the tumor specific neoantigenic peptide fused in the same reading frame to a marker sequence that allows, for example, for purification of the encoded polypeptide, which may then be incorporated into the personalized neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition. For example, the marker sequence can be a hexa-histidine tag (SEQ ID NO: 61) supplied by a pQE-9 vector to provide for purification of the mature polypeptide fused to the marker in the case of a bacterial host, or the marker sequence can be a hemagglutinin (HA) tag derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein when a mammalian host (e.g., COS-7 cells) is used. Additional tags include, but are not limited to, Calmodulin tags, FLAG tags, Myc tags, S tags, SBP tags, Softag 1, Softag 3, V5 tag, Xpress tag, Isopeptag, SpyTag, Biotin Carboxyl Carrier Protein (BCCP) tags, GST tags, fluorescent protein tags (e.g., green fluorescent protein tags), maltose binding protein tags, Nus tags, Strep-tag, thioredoxin tag, TC tag, Ty tag, and the like.

In embodiments, the polynucleotides may comprise the coding sequence for one or more of the tumor specific neoantigenic peptides fused in the same reading frame to create a single concatamerized neoantigenic peptide construct capable of producing multiple neoantigenic peptides.

In certain embodiments, isolated nucleic acid molecules having a nucleotide sequence at least 60% identical, at least 65% identical, at least 70% identical, at least 75% identical, at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, at least 95% identical, or at least 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to a polynucleotide encoding a tumor specific neoantigenic peptide of the present invention, can be provided.

By a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least, for example, 95% “identical” to a reference nucleotide sequence is intended that the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide is identical to the reference sequence except that the polynucleotide sequence can include up to five point mutations per each 100 nucleotides of the reference nucleotide sequence. In other words, to obtain a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a reference nucleotide sequence, up to 5% of the nucleotides in the reference sequence can be deleted or substituted with another nucleotide, or a number of nucleotides up to 5% of the total nucleotides in the reference sequence can be inserted into the reference sequence. These mutations of the reference sequence can occur at the amino- or carboxy-terminal positions of the reference nucleotide sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among nucleotides in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

As a practical matter, whether any particular nucleic acid molecule is at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, and in some embodiments, at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to a reference sequence can be determined conventionally using known computer programs such as the Bestfit program (Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, Version 8 for Unix, Genetics Computer Group, University Research Park, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis. 53711). Bestfit uses the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman, Advances in Applied Mathematics 2:482-489 (1981), to find the best segment of homology between two sequences. When using Bestfit or any other sequence alignment program to determine whether a particular sequence is, for instance, 95% identical to a reference sequence according to the present invention, the parameters are set such that the percentage of identity is calculated over the full length of the reference nucleotide sequence and that gaps in homology of up to 5% of the total number of nucleotides in the reference sequence are allowed.

The isolated tumor specific neoantigenic peptides described herein can be produced in vitro (e.g., in the laboratory) by any suitable method known in the art. Such methods range from direct protein synthetic methods to constructing a DNA sequence encoding isolated polypeptide sequences and expressing those sequences in a suitable transformed host. In some embodiments, a DNA sequence is constructed using recombinant technology by isolating or synthesizing a DNA sequence encoding a wild-type protein of interest. Optionally, the sequence can be mutagenized by site-specific mutagenesis to provide functional analogs thereof. See, e.g. Zoeller et al., Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 81:5662-5066 (1984) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,585.

In embodiments, a DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide of interest would be constructed by chemical synthesis using an oligonucleotide synthesizer. Such oligonucleotides can be designed based on the amino acid sequence of the desired polypeptide and selecting those codons that are favored in the host cell in which the recombinant polypeptide of interest is produced. Standard methods can be applied to synthesize an isolated polynucleotide sequence encoding an isolated polypeptide of interest. For example, a complete amino acid sequence can be used to construct a back-translated gene. Further, a DNA oligomer containing a nucleotide sequence coding for the particular isolated polypeptide can be synthesized. For example, several small oligonucleotides coding for portions of the desired polypeptide can be synthesized and then ligated. The individual oligonucleotides typically contain 5′ or 3′ overhangs for complementary assembly.

Once assembled (e.g., by synthesis, site-directed mutagenesis, or another method), the polynucleotide sequences encoding a particular isolated polypeptide of interest is inserted into an expression vector and optionally operatively linked to an expression control sequence appropriate for expression of the protein in a desired host. Proper assembly can be confirmed by nucleotide sequencing, restriction mapping, and expression of a biologically active polypeptide in a suitable host. As well known in the art, in order to obtain high expression levels of a transfected gene in a host, the gene can be operatively linked to transcriptional and translational expression control sequences that are functional in the chosen expression host.

Recombinant expression vectors may be used to amplify and express DNA encoding the tumor specific neoantigenic peptides. Recombinant expression vectors are replicable DNA constructs which have synthetic or cDNA-derived DNA fragments encoding a tumor specific neoantigenic peptide or a bioequivalent analog operatively linked to suitable transcriptional or translational regulatory elements derived from mammalian, microbial, viral or insect genes. A transcriptional unit generally comprises an assembly of (1) a genetic element or elements having a regulatory role in gene expression, for example, transcriptional promoters or enhancers, (2) a structural or coding sequence which is transcribed into mRNA and translated into protein, and (3) appropriate transcription and translation initiation and termination sequences, as described in detail herein. Such regulatory elements can include an operator sequence to control transcription. The ability to replicate in a host, usually conferred by an origin of replication, and a selection gene to facilitate recognition of transformants can additionally be incorporated. DNA regions are operatively linked when they are functionally related to each other. For example, DNA for a signal peptide (secretory leader) is operatively linked to DNA for a polypeptide if it is expressed as a precursor which participates in the secretion of the polypeptide; a promoter is operatively linked to a coding sequence if it controls the transcription of the sequence; or a ribosome binding site is operatively linked to a coding sequence if it is positioned so as to permit translation. Generally, operatively linked means contiguous, and in the case of secretory leaders, means contiguous and in reading frame. Structural elements intended for use in yeast expression systems include a leader sequence enabling extracellular secretion of translated protein by a host cell. Alternatively, where recombinant protein is expressed without a leader or transport sequence, it can include an N-terminal methionine residue. This residue can optionally be subsequently cleaved from the expressed recombinant protein to provide a final product.

Useful expression vectors for eukaryotic hosts, especially mammals or humans include, for example, vectors comprising expression control sequences from SV40, bovine papilloma virus, adenovirus and cytomegalovirus. Useful expression vectors for bacterial hosts include known bacterial plasmids, such as plasmids from Escherichia coli, including pCR 1, pBR322, pMB9 and their derivatives, wider host range plasmids, such as M13 and filamentous single-stranded DNA phages.

Suitable host cells for expression of a polypeptide include prokaryotes, yeast, insect or higher eukaryotic cells under the control of appropriate promoters. Prokaryotes include gram negative or gram positive organisms, for example E. coli or bacilli. Higher eukaryotic cells include established cell lines of mammalian origin. Cell-free translation systems could also be employed. Appropriate cloning and expression vectors for use with bacterial, fungal, yeast, and mammalian cellular hosts are well known in the art (see Pouwels et al., Cloning Vectors: A Laboratory Manual, Elsevier, N.Y., 1985).

Various mammalian or insect cell culture systems are also advantageously employed to express recombinant protein. Expression of recombinant proteins in mammalian cells can be performed because such proteins are generally correctly folded, appropriately modified and completely functional. Examples of suitable mammalian host cell lines include the COS-7 lines of monkey kidney cells, described by Gluzman (Cell 23:175, 1981), and other cell lines capable of expressing an appropriate vector including, for example, L cells, C127, 3T3, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO), 293, HeLa and BHK cell lines. Mammalian expression vectors can comprise nontranscribed elements such as an origin of replication, a suitable promoter and enhancer linked to the gene to be expressed, and other 5′ or 3′ flanking nontranscribed sequences, and 5′ or 3′ nontranslated sequences, such as necessary ribosome binding sites, a polyadenylation site, splice donor and acceptor sites, and transcriptional termination sequences. Baculovirus systems for production of heterologous proteins in insect cells are reviewed by Luckow and Summers, Bio/Technology 6:47 (1988).

The proteins produced by a transformed host can be purified according to any suitable method. Such standard methods include chromatography (e.g., ion exchange, affinity and sizing column chromatography, and the like), centrifugation, differential solubility, or by any other standard technique for protein purification. Affinity tags such as hexahistidine (SEQ ID NO: 61), maltose binding domain, influenza coat sequence, glutathione-S-transferase, and the like can be attached to the protein to allow easy purification by passage over an appropriate affinity column. Isolated proteins can also be physically characterized using such techniques as proteolysis, nuclear magnetic resonance and x-ray crystallography.

For example, supernatants from systems which secrete recombinant protein into culture media can be first concentrated using a commercially available protein concentration filter, for example, an Amicon or Millipore Pellicon ultrafiltration unit. Following the concentration step, the concentrate can be applied to a suitable purification matrix. Alternatively, an anion exchange resin can be employed, for example, a matrix or substrate having pendant diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) groups. The matrices can be acrylamide, agarose, dextran, cellulose or other types commonly employed in protein purification. Alternatively, a cation exchange step can be employed. Suitable cation exchangers include various insoluble matrices comprising sulfopropyl or carboxymethyl groups. Finally, one or more reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) steps employing hydrophobic RP-HPLC media, e.g., silica gel having pendant methyl or other aliphatic groups, can be employed to further purify a cancer stem cell protein-Fc composition. Some or all of the foregoing purification steps, in various combinations, can also be employed to provide a homogeneous recombinant protein.

Recombinant protein produced in bacterial culture can be isolated, for example, by initial extraction from cell pellets, followed by one or more concentration, salting-out, aqueous ion exchange or size exclusion chromatography steps. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can be employed for final purification steps. Microbial cells employed in expression of a recombinant protein can be disrupted by any convenient method, including freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or use of cell lysing agents.

In Vivo Peptide/Polypeptide Synthesis

The present invention also contemplates the use of nucleic acid molecules as vehicles for delivering neoantigenic peptides/polypeptides to the subject in need thereof, in vivo, in the form of, e.g., DNA/RNA vaccines (see, e.g., WO2012/159643, and WO2012/159754, hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety).

In one embodiment neoantigens may be administered to a patient in need thereof by use of a plasmid. These are plasmids which usually consist of a strong viral promoter to drive the in vivo transcription and translation of the gene (or complementary DNA) of interest (Mor, et al., (1995). The Journal of Immunology 155 (4): 2039-2046). Intron A may sometimes be included to improve mRNA stability and hence increase protein expression (Leitner et al. (1997). The Journal of Immunology 159 (12): 6112-6119). Plasmids also include a strong polyadenylation/transcriptional termination signal, such as bovine growth hormone or rabbit beta-globulin polyadenylation sequences (Alarcon et al., (1999). Adv. Parasitol. Advances in Parasitology 42: 343-410; Robinson et al., (2000). Adv. Virus Res. Advances in Virus Research 55: 1-74; Böhmet al., (1996). Journal of Immunological Methods 193 (1): 29-40.). Multicistronic vectors are sometimes constructed to express more than one immunogen, or to express an immunogen and an immunostimulatory protein (Lewis et al., (1999). Advances in Virus Research (Academic Press) 54: 129-88).

Because the plasmid is the “vehicle” from which the immunogen is expressed, optimising vector design for maximal protein expression is essential (Lewis et al., (1999). Advances in Virus Research (Academic Press) 54: 129-88). One way of enhancing protein expression is by optimising the codon usage of pathogenic mRNAs for eukaryotic cells. Another consideration is the choice of promoter. Such promoters may be the SV40 promoter or Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV).

Plasmids may be introduced into animal tissues by a number of different methods. The two most popular approaches are injection of DNA in saline, using a standard hypodermic needle, and gene gun delivery. A schematic outline of the construction of a DNA vaccine plasmid and its subsequent delivery by these two methods into a host is illustrated at Scientific American (Weiner et al., (1999) Scientific American 281 (1): 34-41). Injection in saline is normally conducted intramuscularly (IM) in skeletal muscle, or intradermally (ID), with DNA being delivered to the extracellular spaces. This can be assisted by electroporation by temporarily damaging muscle fibres with myotoxins such as bupivacaine; or by using hypertonic solutions of saline or sucrose (Alarcon et al., (1999). Adv. Parasitol. Advances in Parasitology 42: 343-410). Immune responses to this method of delivery can be affected by many factors, including needle type, needle alignment, speed of injection, volume of injection, muscle type, and age, sex and physiological condition of the animal being injected (Alarcon et al., (1999). Adv. Parasitol. Advances in Parasitology 42: 343-410).

Gene gun delivery, the other commonly used method of delivery, ballistically accelerates plasmid DNA (pDNA) that has been adsorbed onto gold or tungsten microparticles into the target cells, using compressed helium as an accelerant (Alarcon et al., (1999). Adv. Parasitol. Advances in Parasitology 42: 343-410; Lewis et al., (1999). Advances in Virus Research (Academic Press) 54: 129-88).

Alternative delivery methods may include aerosol instillation of naked DNA on mucosal surfaces, such as the nasal and lung mucosa, (Lewis et al., (1999). Advances in Virus Research (Academic Press) 54: 129-88) and topical administration of pDNA to the eye and vaginal mucosa (Lewis et al., (1999) Advances in Virus Research (Academic Press) 54: 129-88). Mucosal surface delivery has also been achieved using cationic liposome-DNA preparations, biodegradable microspheres, attenuated Shigella or Listeria vectors for oral administration to the intestinal mucosa, and recombinant adenovirus vectors.

The method of delivery determines the dose of DNA required to raise an effective immune response. Saline injections require variable amounts of DNA, from 10 μg-1 mg, whereas gene gun deliveries require 100 to 1000 times less DNA than intramuscular saline injection to raise an effective immune response. Generally, 0.2 μg-20 μg are required, although quantities as low as 16 ng have been reported. These quantities vary from species to species, with mice, for example, requiring approximately 10 times less DNA than primates. Saline injections require more DNA because the DNA is delivered to the extracellular spaces of the target tissue (normally muscle), where it has to overcome physical barriers (such as the basal lamina and large amounts of connective tissue, to mention a few) before it is taken up by the cells, while gene gun deliveries bombard DNA directly into the cells, resulting in less “wastage” (See e.g., Sedegah et al., (1994). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 91 (21): 9866-9870; Daheshiaet al., (1997). The Journal of Immunology 159 (4): 1945-1952; Chen et al., (1998). The Journal of Immunology 160 (5): 2425-2432; Sizemore (1995) Science 270 (5234): 299-302; Fynan et al., (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90 (24): 11478-82).

In one embodiment, a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition may include separate DNA plasmids encoding, for example, one or more neoantigenic peptides/polypeptides as identified in according to the invention. As discussed herein, the exact choice of expression vectors can depend upon the peptide/polypeptides to be expressed, and is well within the skill of the ordinary artisan. The expected persistence of the DNA constructs (e.g., in an episomal, non-replicating, non-integrated form in the muscle cells) is expected to provide an increased duration of protection.

One or more neoantigenic peptides of the invention may be encoded and expressed in vivo using a viral based system (e.g., an adenovirus system, an adeno associated virus (AAV) vector, a poxvirus, or a lentivirus). In one embodiment, the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition may include a viral based vector for use in a human patient in need thereof, such as, for example, an adenovirus (see, e.g., Baden et al. First-in-human evaluation of the safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant adenovirus serotype 26 HIV-1 Env vaccine (IPCAVD 001). J Infect Dis. 2013 Jan. 15; 207(2):240-7, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Plasmids that can be used for adeno associated virus, adenovirus, and lentivirus delivery have been described previously (see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,955,808 and 6,943,019, and U.S. Patent application No. 20080254008, hereby incorporated by reference).

Among vectors that may be used in the practice of the invention, integration in the host genome of a cell is possible with retrovirus gene transfer methods, often resulting in long term expression of the inserted transgene. In a preferred embodiment the retrovirus is a lentivirus. Additionally, high transduction efficiencies have been observed in many different cell types and target tissues. The tropism of a retrovirus can be altered by incorporating foreign envelope proteins, expanding the potential target population of target cells. A retrovirus can also be engineered to allow for conditional expression of the inserted transgene, such that only certain cell types are infected by the lentivirus. Cell type specific promoters can be used to target expression in specific cell types. Lentiviral vectors are retroviral vectors (and hence both lentiviral and retroviral vectors may be used in the practice of the invention). Moreover, lentiviral vectors are preferred as they are able to transduce or infect non-dividing cells and typically produce high viral titers. Selection of a retroviral gene transfer system may therefore depend on the target tissue. Retroviral vectors are comprised of cis-acting long terminal repeats with packaging capacity for up to 6-10 kb of foreign sequence. The minimum cis-acting LTRs are sufficient for replication and packaging of the vectors, which are then used to integrate the desired nucleic acid into the target cell to provide permanent expression. Widely used retroviral vectors that may be used in the practice of the invention include those based upon murine leukemia virus (MuLV), gibbon ape leukemia virus (GaLV), Simian Immuno deficiency virus (SIV), human immuno deficiency virus (HIV), and combinations thereof (see, e.g., Buchscher et al., (1992) J. Virol. 66:2731-2739; Johann et al., (1992) J. Virol. 66:1635-1640; Sommnerfelt et al., (1990) Virol. 176:58-59; Wilson et al., (1998) J. Virol. 63:2374-2378; Miller et al., (1991) J. Virol. 65:2220-2224; PCT/US94/05700). Zou et al. administered about 10 μl of a recombinant lentivirus having a titer of 1×10⁹ transducing units (TU)/ml by an intrathecal catheter. These sort of dosages can be adapted or extrapolated to use of a retroviral or lentiviral vector in the present invention.

Also useful in the practice of the invention is a minimal non-primate lentiviral vector, such as a lentiviral vector based on the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) (see, e.g., Balagaan, (2006) J Gene Med; 8: 275-285, Published online 21 Nov. 2005 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/jgm.845). The vectors may have cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter driving expression of the target gene. Accordingly, the invention contemplates amongst vector(s) useful in the practice of the invention: viral vectors, including retroviral vectors and lentiviral vectors.

Also useful in the practice of the invention is an adenovirus vector. One advantage is the ability of recombinant adenoviruses to efficiently transfer and express recombinant genes in a variety of mammalian cells and tissues in vitro and in vivo, resulting in the high expression of the transferred nucleic acids. Further, the ability to productively infect quiescent cells, expands the utility of recombinant adenoviral vectors. In addition, high expression levels ensure that the products of the nucleic acids will be expressed to sufficient levels to generate an immune response (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,029,848, hereby incorporated by reference).

In an embodiment herein the delivery is via an adenovirus, which may be at a single booster dose containing at least 1×10⁵ particles (also referred to as particle units, pu) of adenoviral vector. In an embodiment herein, the dose preferably is at least about 1×10⁶ particles (for example, about 1×10⁶-1×10¹² particles), more preferably at least about 1×10⁷ particles, more preferably at least about 1×10⁸ particles (e.g., about 1×10⁸-1×10¹¹ particles or about 1×10⁸-1×10¹² particles), and most preferably at least about 1×10⁹ particles (e.g., about 1×10⁹-1×10¹⁰ particles or about 1×10⁹-1×10¹² particles), or even at least about 1×10¹⁰ particles (e.g., about 1×10¹⁰-1×10¹² particles) of the adenoviral vector. Alternatively, the dose comprises no more than about 1×10¹⁴ particles, preferably no more than about 1×10¹³ particles, even more preferably no more than about 1×10¹² particles, even more preferably no more than about 1×10¹¹ particles, and most preferably no more than about 1×10¹⁰ particles (e.g., no more than about 1×10⁹ articles). Thus, the dose may contain a single dose of adenoviral vector with, for example, about 1×10⁶ particle units (pu), about 2×10⁶ pu, about 4×10⁶ pu, about 1×10⁷ pu, about 2×10⁷ pu, about 4×10⁷ pu, about 1×10⁸ pu, about 2×10⁸ pu, about 4×10⁸ pu, about 1×10⁹ pu, about 2×10⁹ pu, about 4×10⁹ pu, about 1×10¹⁰ pu, about 2×10¹⁰ pu, about 4×10¹⁰ pu, about 1×10¹¹ pu, about 2×10¹¹ pu, about 4×10¹¹ pu, about 1×10¹² pu, about 2×10¹² pu, or about 4×10¹² pu of adenoviral vector. See, for example, the adenoviral vectors in U.S. Pat. No. 8,454,972 B2 to Nabel, et. al., granted on Jun. 4, 2013; incorporated by reference herein, and the dosages at col 29, lines 36-58 thereof. In an embodiment herein, the adenovirus is delivered via multiple doses.

In terms of in vivo delivery, AAV is advantageous over other viral vectors due to low toxicity and low probability of causing insertional mutagenesis because it doesn't integrate into the host genome. AAV has a packaging limit of 4.5 or 4.75 Kb. Constructs larger than 4.5 or 4.75 Kb result in significantly reduced virus production. There are many promoters that can be used to drive nucleic acid molecule expression. AAV ITR can serve as a promoter and is advantageous for eliminating the need for an additional promoter element. For ubiquitous expression, the following promoters can be used: CMV, CAG, CBh, PGK, SV40, Ferritin heavy or light chains, etc. For brain expression, the following promoters can be used: SynapsinI for all neurons, CaMKIIalpha for excitatory neurons, GAD67 or GAD65 or VGAT for GABAergic neurons, etc. Promoters used to drive RNA synthesis can include: Pol III promoters such as U6 or H1. The use of a Pol II promoter and intronic cassettes can be used to express guide RNA (gRNA).

As to AAV, the AAV can be AAV1, AAV2, AAV5 or any combination thereof. One can select the AAV with regard to the cells to be targeted; e.g., one can select AAV serotypes 1, 2, 5 or a hybrid capsid AAV1, AAV2, AAV5 or any combination thereof for targeting brain or neuronal cells; and one can select AAV4 for targeting cardiac tissue. AAV8 is useful for delivery to the liver. The above promoters and vectors are preferred individually.

In an embodiment herein, the delivery is via an AAV. A therapeutically effective dosage for in vivo delivery of the AAV to a human is believed to be in the range of from about 20 to about 50 ml of saline solution containing from about 1×10¹⁰ to about 1×10⁵⁰ functional AAV/ml solution. The dosage may be adjusted to balance the therapeutic benefit against any side effects. In an embodiment herein, the AAV dose is generally in the range of concentrations of from about 1×10⁵ to 1×10⁵⁰ genomes AAV, from about 1×10⁸ to 1×10²⁰ genomes AAV, from about 1×10¹⁰ to about 1×10¹⁶ genomes, or about 1×10¹¹ to about 1×10¹⁶ genomes AAV. A human dosage may be about 1×10¹³ genomes AAV. Such concentrations may be delivered in from about 0.001 ml to about 100 ml, about 0.05 to about 50 ml, or about 10 to about 25 ml of a carrier solution. In a preferred embodiment, AAV is used with a titer of about 2×10¹³ viral genomes/milliliter, and each of the striatal hemispheres of a mouse receives one 500 nanoliter injection. Other effective dosages can be readily established by one of ordinary skill in the art through routine trials establishing dose response curves. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,404,658 B2 to Hajjar, et al., granted on Mar. 26, 2013, at col. 27, lines 45-60.

In another embodiment effectively activating a cellular immune response for a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition can be achieved by expressing the relevant neoantigens in a vaccine or immunogenic composition in a non-pathogenic microorganism. Well-known examples of such microorganisms are Mycobacterium bovis BCG, Salmonella and Pseudomona (See, U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,797, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

In another embodiment a Poxvirus is used in the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition. These include orthopoxvirus, avipox, vaccinia, MVA, NYVAC, canarypox, ALVAC, fowlpox, TROVAC, etc. (see e.g., Verardiet al., Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2012 July; 8(7):961-70; and Moss, Vaccine. 2013; 31(39): 4220-4222). Poxvirus expression vectors were described in 1982 and quickly became widely used for vaccine development as well as research in numerous fields. Advantages of the vectors include simple construction, ability to accommodate large amounts of foreign DNA and high expression levels.

In another embodiment the vaccinia virus is used in the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition to express a neoantigen. (Rolph et al., Recombinant viruses as vaccines and immunological tools. Curr Opin Immunol 9:517-524, 1997). The recombinant vaccinia virus is able to replicate within the cytoplasm of the infected host cell and the polypeptide of interest can therefore induce an immune response. Moreover, Poxviruses have been widely used as vaccine or immunogenic composition vectors because of their ability to target encoded antigens for processing by the major histocompatibility complex class I pathway by directly infecting immune cells, in particular antigen-presenting cells, but also due to their ability to self-adjuvant.

In another embodiment ALVAC is used as a vector in a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition. ALVAC is a canarypox virus that can be modified to express foreign transgenes and has been used as a method for vaccination against both prokaryotic and eukaryotic antigens (Horig H, Lee D S, Conkright W, et al. Phase I clinical trial of a recombinant canarypoxvirus (ALVAC) vaccine expressing human carcinoembryonic antigen and the B7.1 co-stimulatory molecule. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2000; 49:504-14; von Mehren M, Arlen P, Tsang K Y, et al. Pilot study of a dual gene recombinant avipox vaccine containing both carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and B7.1 transgenes in patients with recurrent CEA-expressing adenocarcinomas. Clin Cancer Res 2000; 6:2219-28; Musey L, Ding Y, Elizaga M, et al. HIV-1 vaccination administered intramuscularly can induce both systemic and mucosal T cell immunity in HIV-1-uninfected individuals. J Immunol 2003; 171:1094-101; Paoletti E. Applications of pox virus vectors to vaccination: an update. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1996; 93:11349-53; U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,862). In a phase I clinical trial, an ALVAC virus expressing the tumor antigen CEA showed an excellent safety profile and resulted in increased CEA-specific T-cell responses in selected patients; objective clinical responses, however, were not observed (Marshall J L, Hawkins M J, Tsang K Y, et al. Phase I study in cancer patients of a replication-defective avipox recombinant vaccine that expresses human carcinoembryonic antigen. J Clin Oncol 1999; 17:332-7).

In another embodiment a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus may be used as a viral vector for a neoantigen vaccine or immunogenic composition. MVA is a member of the Orthopoxvirus family and has been generated by about 570 serial passages on chicken embryo fibroblasts of the Ankara strain of Vaccinia virus (CVA) (for review see Mayr, A., et al., Infection 3, 6-14, 1975). As a consequence of these passages, the resulting MVA virus contains 31 kilobases less genomic information compared to CVA, and is highly host-cell restricted (Meyer, H. et al., J. Gen. Virol. 72, 1031-1038, 1991). MVA is characterized by its extreme attenuation, namely, by a diminished virulence or infectious ability, but still holds an excellent immunogenicity. When tested in a variety of animal models, MVA was proven to be avirulent, even in immuno-suppressed individuals. Moreover, MVA-BN®-HER2 is a candidate immunotherapy designed for the treatment of HER-2-positive breast cancer and is currently in clinical trials. (Mandl et al., Cancer Immunol Immunother. January 2012; 61(1): 19-29). Methods to make and use recombinant MVA has been described (e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,309,098 and 5,185,146 hereby incorporated in its entirety).

In another embodiment the modified Copenhagen strain of vaccinia virus, NYVAC and NYVAC variations are used as a vector (see U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,862; PCT WO 95/30018; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,364,773 and 5,494,807, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

In one embodiment recombinant viral particles of the vaccine or immunogenic composition are administered to patients in need thereof. Dosages of expressed neoantigen can range from a few to a few hundred micrograms, e.g., 5 to 500 .mu.g. The vaccine or immunogenic composition can be administered in any suitable amount to achieve expression at these dosage levels. The viral particles can be administered to a patient in need thereof or transfected into cells in an amount of about at least 103-5 pfu; thus, the viral particles are preferably administered to a patient in need thereof or infected or transfected into cells in at least about 10⁴ pfu to about 10⁶ pfu; however, a patient in need thereof can be administered at least about 10⁸ pfu such that a more preferred amount for administration can be at least about 10⁷ pfu to about 10⁹ pfu. Doses as to NYVAC are applicable as to ALVAC, MVA, MVA-BN, and avipoxes, such as canarypox and fowlpox.

Vaccine or Immunogenic Composition Adjuvant

Effective vaccine or immunogenic compositions advantageously include a strong adjuvant to initiate an immune response. As described herein, poly-ICLC, an agonist of TLR3 and the RNA helicase-domains of MDA5 and RIG3, has shown several desirable properties for a vaccine or immunogenic composition adjuvant. These properties include the induction of local and systemic activation of immune cells in vivo, production of stimulatory chemokines and cytokines, and stimulation of antigen-presentation by DCs. Furthermore, poly-ICLC can induce durable CD4+ and CD8+ responses in humans. Importantly, striking similarities in the upregulation of transcriptional and signal transduction pathways were seen in subjects vaccinated with poly-ICLC and in volunteers who had received the highly effective, replication-competent yellow fever vaccine. Furthermore, >90% of ovarian carcinoma patients immunized with poly-ICLC in combination with a NY-ESO-1 peptide vaccine (in addition to Montanide) showed induction of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell, as well as antibody responses to the peptide in a recent phase 1 study. At the same time, poly-ICLC has been extensively tested in more than 25 clinical trials to date and exhibited a relatively benign toxicity profile. In addition to a powerful and specific immunogen the neoantigen peptides may be combined with an adjuvant (e.g., poly-ICLC) or another anti-neoplastic agent. Without being bound by theory, these neoantigens are expected to bypass central thymic tolerance (thus allowing stronger anti-tumor T cell response), while reducing the potential for autoimmunity (e.g., by avoiding targeting of normal self-antigens). An effective immune response advantageously includes a strong adjuvant to activate the immune system (Speiser and Romero, Molecularly defined vaccines for cancer immunotherapy, and protective T cell immunity Seminars in Immunol 22:144 (2010)). For example, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have emerged as powerful sensors of microbial and viral pathogen “danger signals”, effectively inducing the innate immune system, and in turn, the adaptive immune system (Bhardwaj and Gnjatic, TLR AGONISTS: Are They Good Adjuvants? Cancer J. 16:382-391 (2010)). Among the TLR agonists, poly-ICLC (a synthetic double-stranded RNA mimic) is one of the most potent activators of myeloid-derived dendritic cells. In a human volunteer study, poly-ICLC has been shown to be safe and to induce a gene expression profile in peripheral blood cells comparable to that induced by one of the most potent live attenuated viral vaccines, the yellow fever vaccine YF-17D (Caskey et al, Synthetic double-stranded RNA induces innate immune responses similar to a live viral vaccine in humans J Exp Med 208:2357 (2011)). In a preferred embodiment Hiltonol®, a GMP preparation of poly-ICLC prepared by Oncovir, Inc, is utilized as the adjuvant. In other embodiments, other adjuvants described herein are envisioned. For instance oil-in-water, water-in-oil or multiphasic W/O/W; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,608,279 and Aucouturier et al, Vaccine 19 (2001), 2666-2672, and documents cited therein.

Checkpoint Inhibitors

The present invention features methods of treating or preventing a neoplasia comprising the steps of administering to a subject a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition, as described herein, and at least one checkpoint inhibitor. Accordingly, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more checkpoint inhibitors may be administered. In certain exemplary embodiments, one checkpoint inhibitor is administered. In other exemplary embodiments, 2 checkpoint inhibitors are administered.

Page et al. (Annu. Rev. Med. 2014.65) summarizes published trials investigating checkpoint modulators in solid tumors. Mullard, A. (Nature Reviews, Drug Discovery. Vol. 12, July 2013) provides a review of checkpoint inhibitors. A summary table of exemplary checkpoint inhibitors is provided herein.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA-4), also known as CD152, is a co-inhibitory molecule that functions to regulate T-cell activation.

CTLA4 was initially identified as negative regulator on the surface of T-cells that was upregulated shortly after initiation of a de novo immune response or stimulation of an existing response in order to dampen the subsequent immune T-cell response and prevent auto-immunity or uncontrolled inflammation. Thus, the magnitude of the developing immune response has been closely tied to CTLA4 action. In certain embodiments, the anti-CTLA4 antibody is Ipilumumab or Tremelimumab.

Checkpoint inhibitors function by modulating the immune system's endogenous mechanisms of T cell regulation. Ipilimumab (YERVOY, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, New York, N.Y.)—is a monoclonal antibody and is the first such checkpoint inhibitor to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—has become standard treatment for metastatic melanoma (Hodi et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 363:711-23. 2010; Robert et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 364:2517-26. 2011). Ipilimumab binds and blocks inhibitory signaling mediated by the T cell surface co-inhibitory molecule cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4). Because the mechanism of action is not specific to one tumor type, and because a wealth of preclinical data supports the role of tumor immune surveillance across multiple malignancies (Andre et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 19:28-33. 2013; May et al. Clin. Cancer Res. 17:5233-38. 2011), Ipilumumab is being investigated as a treatment for patients with prostate, lung, renal, and breast cancer, among other tumor types. Ipilimumab works by activating the immune system by targeting CTLA-4.

Another CTLA-4-blocking antibody, Tremelimumab, continues to be investigated in clinical trials and has also demonstrated durable responses in patients with melanoma (Kirkwood et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 16:1042-48. 2010; Ribas et al. J. Clin. Oncol. 31:616-22, 2013).

Accordingly, the present invention features in exemplary embodiments, novel combinations of a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and one or more anti-CTLA4 antibodies. The invention also features in other exemplary embodiments, novel combinations of a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition, Ipilimumab and/or Nivolumab and one or more anti-CTLA4 antibodies.

Inhibitors of Programmed Cell Death-1 Pathway

Whereas CTLA-4 serves to regulate early T cell activation, Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) signaling functions in part to regulate T cell activation in peripheral tissues. The PD-1 receptor refers to an immunoinhibitory receptor belonging to the CD28 family. PD-1 is expressed on a number of cell types including T regs, activated B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, and is expressed predominantly on previously activated T cells in vivo, and binds to two ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2. PD1's endogenous ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, are expressed in activated immune cells as well as nonhematopoietic cells, including tumor cells. PD-1 as used herein is meant to include human PD-1 (hPD-1), variants, isoforms, and species homologs of hPD-1, and analogs having at least one common epitope with hPD-1. The complete hPD-1 sequence can be found under GENBANK Accession No. U64863. Programmed Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1” is one of two cell surface glycoprotein ligands for PD-1 (the other being PD-L2) that downregulate T cell activation and cytokine secretion upon binding to PD-1. PD-L1 as used herein includes human PD-L1 (hPD-L1), variants, isoforms, and species homologs of hPD-L1, and analogs having at least one common epitope with hPD-L1. The complete hPD-L1 sequence can be found under GENBANK Accession No. Q9NZQ7. Tumors have been demonstrated to escape immune surveillance by expressing PD-L1/L2, thereby suppressing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes via PD-1/PD-L1,2 interactions (Dong et al. Nat. Med. 8:793-800. 2002). Inhibition of these interactions with therapeutic antibodies has been shown to enhance T cell response and stimulate antitumor activity (Freeman et al. J. Exp. Med. 192:1027-34.2000).

The Abs of the invention include, but are not limited to, all of the anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 Abs disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,008,449 and 7,943,743, respectively. Other anti-PD-1 mAbs have been described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,488,802 and 8,168,757, and anti-PD-L1 mAbs have been described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,635,757 and 8,217,149, and U.S. Publication No. 2009/0317368. U.S. Pat. No. 8,008,449 exemplifies seven anti-PD-1 HuMAbs: 17D8, 2D3, 4H1, 5C4 (also referred to herein as nivolumab or BMS-936558), 4A11, 7D3 and 5F4.

In some embodiments, the anti-PD-1 antibody is nivolumab. Alternative names for Nivolumab include MDX-1 106, MDX-1 106-04, ONO-4538, BMS-936558. In some embodiments, the anti-PD-1 antibody is Nivolumab (CAS Registry Number: 946414-94-4).

Nivolumab is a fully human IgG4 blocking monoclonal antibody against PD-1 (Topaliam et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 366:2443-54. 2012). Nivolumab specifically blocks PD-1, which can overcome immune resistance. The ligands for PD-1 have been identified as PD-L1 (B7-H1), which is expressed on all hemopoietic cells and many nonhemopoietic tissues, and PD-L2 (B7-DC), whose expression is restricted primarily to dendritic cells and macrophages (Dong, H. et al. 1999. Nat. Med. 5:1365; Freeman, G. J. et al. 2000. J. Exp. Med. 192:1027; Latchman, Y. et al. 2001. Nat. Immunol. 2:261; Tseng, S. Y. et al. 2001. J. Exp. Med. 193:839). PD-L1 is overexpressed in many cancers and is often associated with poor prognosis (Okazaki T et al., Intern. Immun. 2007 19(7):813) (Thompson R H et al., Cancer Res 2006, 66(7):3381). Interestingly, the majority of tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes predominantly express PD-1, in contrast to T lymphocytes in normal tissues and peripheral blood T lymphocytes indicating that up-regulation of PD-1 on tumor-reactive T cells can contribute to impaired antitumor immune responses (Blood 2009 1 14(8): 1537). Specifically, since tumor cells express PD-L1, an immunosuppressive PD-1 ligand, inhibition of the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1 can enhance T-cell responses in vitro and mediate preclinical antitumor activity.

A number of clinical trials (Phase I, II and III) involving Nivolumab have been conducted or are on-going (see clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=nivolumab&pg=1, accessed on Dec. 20, 2013). For example, in a phase I dose escalation trial, nivolumab was safe, and objective responses were 16-31% across tumor types, with most responses being durable for >1 year (Topaliam et al., Presented at Annu. Meet. Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol., Chicago, May 31-Jun. 4, 2013). In another study, the safety and clinical activity of nivolumab (anti-PD-1, BMS-936558, ONO-4538) in combination with ipilimumab in patients with advanced melanoma was investigated (Wolchok, J Clin Oncol 31, 2013 (suppl; abstr 9012 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting).

Two anti-PD-L1 inhibitory antibodies, MPDL3280A (Genentech, South San Francisco, Calif.) and BMS-936559 (Bristol Meyers Squibb, New York, N.Y.), have undergone clinical investigation. Like nivolumab and MK-3475, these antibodies are thought to function principally by blocking PD-1/PD-L1 signaling. Unlike PD-1 antibodies, PD-L1 antibodies spare potential interactions between PD-L2 and PD-1, but additionally block interactions between PD-L1 and CD80 (Park et al., 2010. Blood 116:1291-98). MPDL3280A has been evaluated in multiple tumor types, with safety and preliminary efficacy identified in melanoma; renal cell carcinoma; non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC); and colorectal, gastric, and head/neck squamous cell carcinoma (Herbst et al. resented at Annu. Meet. Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol., Chicago, May 31-Jun. 4, 2013). Similarly, BMS-936559 was shown to be safe and clinically active across multiple tumor types in a phase I trial. MEDI-4736 is another PD-L1-blocking antibody currently in clinical development (NCT01693562).

In addition to CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1, numerous other immunomodulatory targets have been identified preclinically, many with corresponding therapeutic antibodies that are being investigated in clinical trials. Page et al. (Annu. Rev. Med. 2014.65) details targets of antibody immune modulators in FIG. 1, incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention features in exemplary aspects, novel combinations of a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and one or more inhibitors of the PD-1 pathway. In preferred embodiments, the inhibitor of the PD-1 pathway is an anti-PD1 antibody, for example Nivolumab.

The present invention also features in other exemplary aspects, novel combinations of a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and Nivolumab and/or one or more anti-CTLA4 antibodies.

Indications

Examples of cancers and cancer conditions that can be treated with the combination therapy of this document include, but are not limited to a patient in need thereof that has been diagnosed as having cancer, or at risk of developing cancer. The subject may have a solid tumor such as breast, ovarian, prostate, lung, kidney, gastric, colon, testicular, head and neck, pancreas, brain, melanoma, and other tumors of tissue organs and hematological tumors, such as lymphomas and leukemias, including acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, T cell lymphocytic leukemia, and B cell lymphomas, tumors of the brain and central nervous system (e.g., tumors of the meninges, brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of the CNS, such as glioblastomas or medulla blastomas); head and/or neck cancer, breast tumors, tumors of the circulatory system (e.g., heart, mediastinum and pleura, and other intrathoracic organs, vascular tumors, and tumor-associated vascular tissue); tumors of the blood and lymphatic system (e.g., Hodgkin's disease, Non-Hodgkin's disease lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, AIDS-related lymphomas, malignant immunoproliferative diseases, multiple myeloma, and malignant plasma cell neoplasms, lymphoid leukemia, myeloid leukemia, acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia, monocytic leukemia, other leukemias of specific cell type, leukemia of unspecified cell type, unspecified malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissues, such as diffuse large cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma or cutaneous T-cell lymphoma); tumors of the excretory system (e.g., kidney, renal pelvis, ureter, bladder, and other urinary organs); tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, colorectal, rectosigmoid junction, rectum, anus, and anal canal); tumors involving the liver and intrahepatic bile ducts, gall bladder, and other parts of the biliary tract, pancreas, and other digestive organs; tumors of the oral cavity (e.g., lip, tongue, gum, floor of mouth, palate, parotid gland, salivary glands, tonsil, oropharynx, nasopharynx, puriform sinus, hypopharynx, and other sites of the oral cavity); tumors of the reproductive system (e.g., vulva, vagina, Cervix uteri, uterus, ovary, and other sites associated with female genital organs, placenta, penis, prostate, testis, and other sites associated with male genital organs); tumors of the respiratory tract (e.g., nasal cavity, middle ear, accessory sinuses, larynx, trachea, bronchus and lung, such as small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer); tumors of the skeletal system (e.g., bone and articular cartilage of limbs, bone articular cartilage and other sites); tumors of the skin (e.g., malignant melanoma of the skin, non-melanoma skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma of skin, squamous cell carcinoma of skin, mesothelioma, Kaposi's sarcoma); and tumors involving other tissues including peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system, connective and soft tissue, retroperitoneoum and peritoneum, eye, thyroid, adrenal gland, and other endocrine glands and related structures, secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasms of lymph nodes, secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive systems and secondary malignant neoplasm of other sites.

Of special interest is the treatment of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC), metastatic melanoma, sarcoma, leukemia or a cancer of the bladder, colon, brain, breast, head and neck, endometrium, lung, ovary, pancreas or prostate. In certain embodiments, the melanoma is high risk melanoma.

Cancers that can be treated using this combination therapy may include among others cases which are refractory to treatment with other chemotherapeutics. The term “refractory, as used herein refers to a cancer (and/or metastases thereof), which shows no or only weak antiproliferative response (e.g., no or only weak inhibition of tumor growth) after treatment with another chemotherapeutic agent. These are cancers that cannot be treated satisfactorily with other chemotherapeutics. Refractory cancers encompass not only (i) cancers where one or more chemotherapeutics have already failed during treatment of a patient, but also (ii) cancers that can be shown to be refractory by other means, e.g., biopsy and culture in the presence of chemotherapeutics.

The combination therapy described herein is also applicable to the treatment of patients in need thereof who have not been previously treated.

The combination therapy described herein is also applicable where the subject has no detectable neoplasia but is at high risk for disease recurrence.

Also of special interest is the treatment of patients in need thereof s who have undergone Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (AHSCT), and in particular patients who demonstrate residual disease after undergoing AHSCT. The post-AHSCT setting is characterized by a low volume of residual disease, the infusion of immune cells to a situation of homeostatic expansion, and the absence of any standard relapse-delaying therapy. These features provide a unique opportunity to use the claimed neoplastic vaccine or immunogenic composition and checkpoint inhibitor compositions to delay disease relapse.

Pharmaceutical Compositions/Methods of Delivery

The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of one or more compounds according to the present invention (including a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, thereof), optionally in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or additive.

When administered as a combination, the therapeutic agents (i.e. the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and one or more checkpoint inhibitors) can be formulated as separate compositions that are given at the same time or different times, or the therapeutic agents can be given as a single composition.

The compositions may be administered once daily, twice daily, once every two days, once every three days, once every four days, once every five days, once every six days, once every seven days, once every two weeks, once every three weeks, once every four weeks, once every two months, once every six months, or once per year. The dosing interval can be adjusted according to the needs of individual patients. For longer intervals of administration, extended release or depot formulations can be used.

The compositions of the invention can be used to treat diseases and disease conditions that are acute, and may also be used for treatment of chronic conditions. In particular, the compositions of the invention are used in methods to treat or prevent a neoplasia.

In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention are administered for time periods exceeding two weeks, three weeks, one month, two months, three months, four months, five months, six months, one year, two years, three years, four years, or five years, ten years, or fifteen years; or for example, any time period range in days, months or years in which the low end of the range is any time period between 14 days and 15 years and the upper end of the range is between 15 days and 20 years (e.g., 4 weeks and 15 years, 6 months and 20 years). In some cases, it may be advantageous for the compounds of the invention to be administered for the remainder of the patient's life. In preferred embodiments, the patient is monitored to check the progression of the disease or disorder, and the dose is adjusted accordingly. In preferred embodiments, treatment according to the invention is effective for at least two weeks, three weeks, one month, two months, three months, four months, five months, six months, one year, two years, three years, four years, or five years, ten years, fifteen years, twenty years, or for the remainder of the subject's life.

As described herein, in certain embodiments, administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is initiated before initiation of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition. In other embodiments, administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is initiated after initiation of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition. In still other embodiments, administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is initiated simultaneously with the initiation of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition.

Administration of the checkpoint inhibitor may continue every 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or more weeks after the first administration of the checkpoint inhibitor. It is understood that week 1 is meant to include days 1-7, week 2 is meant to include days 8-14, week 3 is meant to include days 15-21 and week 4 is meant to include days 22-28. When dosing is described as being on weekly intervals it means approximately 7 days apart although in any given week the day can be one or more days before or after the scheduled day

In certain embodiments, administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is withheld during the week prior to administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition. In other embodiments, administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is withheld during administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition.

Surgical resection uses surgery to remove abnormal tissue in cancer, such as mediastinal, neurogenic, or germ cell tumors, or thymoma. In certain embodiments, administration of the checkpoint inhibitor is initiated following tumor resection. In other embodiments, administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition is initiated 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or more weeks after tumor resection. Preferably, administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition is initiated 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 weeks after tumor resection.

Prime/boost regimens refer to the successive administrations of a vaccine or immunogenic or immunological compositions. In certain embodiments, administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition is in a prime/boost dosing regimen, for example administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition at weeks 1, 2, 3 or 4 as a prime and administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition is at months 2, 3 or 4 as a boost. In another embodiment heterologous prime-boost strategies are used to ellicit a greater cytotoxic T-cell response (see Schneider et al., Induction of CD8+ T cells using heterologous prime-boost immunisation strategies, Immunological Reviews Volume 170, Issue 1, pages 29-38, August 1999). In another embodiment DNA encoding neoantigens is used to prime followed by a protein boost. In another embodiment protein is used to prime followed by boosting with a virus encoding the neoantigen. In another embodiment a virus encoding the neoantigen is used to prime and another virus is used to boost. In another embodiment protein is used to prime and DNA is used to boost. In a preferred embodiment a DNA vaccine or immunogenic composition is used to prime a T-cell response and a recombinant viral vaccine or immunogenic composition is used to boost the response. In another preferred embodiment a viral vaccine or immunogenic composition is coadministered with a protein or DNA vaccine or immunogenic composition to act as an adjuvant for the protein or DNA vaccine or immunogenic composition. The patient can then be boosted with either the viral vaccine or immunogenic composition, protein, or DNA vaccine or immunogenic composition (see Hutchings et al., Combination of protein and viral vaccines induces potent cellular and humoral immune responses and enhanced protection from murine malaria challenge. Infect Immun. 2007 December; 75(12):5819-26. Epub 2007 Oct. 1).

The pharmaceutical compositions can be processed in accordance with conventional methods of pharmacy to produce medicinal agents for administration to patients in need thereof, including humans and other mammals.

Modifications of the neoantigenic peptides can affect the solubility, bioavailability and rate of metabolism of the peptides, thus providing control over the delivery of the active species. Solubility can be assessed by preparing the neoantigenic peptide and testing according to known methods well within the routine practitioner's skill in the art.

It has been found that a pharmaceutical composition comprising succinic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (succinate) can provide improved solubility for the neoantigenic peptides. Thus, in one aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising: at least one neoantigenic peptide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; a pH modifier (such as a base, such as a dicarboxylate or tricarboxylate salt, for example, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of succinic acid or citric acid); and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such pharmaceutical compositions can be prepared by combining a solution comprising at least one neoantigenic peptide with a base, such as a dicarboxylate or tricarboxylate salt, such as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of succinic acid or citric acid (such as sodium succinate), or by combining a solution comprising at least one neoantigenic peptide with a solution comprising a base, such as a dicarboxylate or tricarboxylate salt, such as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of succinic acid or citric acid (including, e.g., a succinate buffer solution). In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises sodium succinate. In certain embodiments, the pH modifier (such as citrate or succinate) is present in the composition at a concentration from about 1 mM to about 10 mM, and, in certain embodiments, at a concentration from about 1.5 mM to about 7.5 mM, or about 2.0 to about 6.0 mM, or about 3.75 to about 5.0 mM.

In certain embodiments of the pharmaceutical composition the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises water. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier further comprises dextrose. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier further comprises dimethylsulfoxide. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition further comprises an immunomodulator or adjuvant. In certain embodiments, the immunodulator or adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of poly-ICLC, 1018 ISS, aluminum salts, Amplivax, AS15, BCG, CP-870,893, CpG7909, CyaA, dSLIM, GM-CSF, IC30, IC31, Imiquimod, ImuFact IMP321, IS Patch, ISS, ISCOMATRIX, JuvImmune, LipoVac, MF59, monophosphoryl lipid A, Montanide IMS 1312, Montanide ISA 206, Montanide ISA 50V, Montanide ISA-51, OK-432, OM-174, OM-197-MP-EC, ONTAK, PEPTEL, vector system, PLGA microparticles, resiquimod, SRL172, Virosomes and other Virus-like particles, YF-17D, VEGF trap, R848, beta-glucan, Pam3Cys, and Aquila's QS21 stimulon. In certain embodiments, the immunomodulator or adjuvant comprises poly-ICLC.

Xanthenone derivatives such as, for example, Vadimezan or AsA404 (also known as 5,6-dimethylaxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA)), may also be used as adjuvants according to embodiments of the invention. Alternatively, such derivatives may also be administered in parallel to the vaccine or immunogenic composition of the invention, for example via systemic or intratumoral delivery, to stimulate immunity at the tumor site. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that such xanthenone derivatives act by stimulating interferon (IFN) production via the stimulator of IFN gene ISTING) receptor (see e.g., Conlon et al. (2013) Mouse, but not Human STING, Binds and Signals in Response to the Vascular Disrupting Agent 5,6-Dimethylxanthenone-4-Acetic Acid, Journal of Immunology, 190:5216-25 and Kim et al. (2013) Anticancer Flavonoids are Mouse-Selective STING Agonists, 8:1396-1401).

The vaccine or immunological composition may also include an adjuvant compound chosen from the acrylic or methacrylic polymers and the copolymers of maleic anhydride and an alkenyl derivative. It is in particular a polymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid cross-linked with a polyalkenyl ether of a sugar or polyalcohol (carbomer), in particular cross-linked with an allyl sucrose or with allylpentaerythritol. It may also be a copolymer of maleic anhydride and ethylene cross-linked, for example, with divinyl ether (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,713,068 hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

In certain embodiments, the pH modifier can stabilize the adjuvant or immunomodulator as described herein.

In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition comprises: one to five peptides, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dextrose, water, succinate, poly I:poly C, poly-L-lysine, carboxymethylcellulose, and chloride. In certain embodiments, each of the one to five peptides is present at a concentration of 300 μg/ml. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises ≤3% DMSO by volume. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises 3.6-3.7% dextrose in water. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises 3.6-3.7 mM succinate (e.g., as sodium succinate). In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises 0.5 mg/ml poly I:poly C. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises 0.375 mg/ml poly-L-Lysine. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises 1.25 mg/ml sodium carboxymethylcellulose. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises 0.225% sodium chloride.

Pharmaceutical compositions comprise the herein-described tumor specific neoantigenic peptides in a therapeutically effective amount for treating diseases and conditions (e.g., a neoplasia/tumor), which have been described herein, optionally in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable additive, carrier and/or excipient. One of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure and the knowledge in the art will recognize that a therapeutically effective amount of one of more compounds according to the present invention may vary with the condition to be treated, its severity, the treatment regimen to be employed, the pharmacokinetics of the agent used, as well as the patient (animal or human) treated.

To prepare the pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention, a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the compounds according to the present invention is preferably intimately admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier according to conventional pharmaceutical compounding techniques to produce a dose. A carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration, e.g., ocular, oral, topical or parenteral, including gels, creams ointments, lotions and time released implantable preparations, among numerous others. In preparing pharmaceutical compositions in oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be used. Thus, for liquid oral preparations such as suspensions, elixirs and solutions, suitable carriers and additives including water, glycols, oils, alcohols, flavoring agents, preservatives, coloring agents and the like may be used. For solid oral preparations such as powders, tablets, capsules, and for solid preparations such as suppositories, suitable carriers and additives including starches, sugar carriers, such as dextrose, mannitol, lactose and related carriers, diluents, granulating agents, lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents and the like may be used. If desired, the tablets or capsules may be enteric-coated or sustained release by standard techniques.

The active compound is included in the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent in an amount sufficient to deliver to a patient a therapeutically effective amount for the desired indication, without causing serious toxic effects in the patient treated.

Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an edible carrier. They may be enclosed in gelatin capsules or compressed into tablets. For the purpose of oral therapeutic administration, the active compound or its prodrug derivative can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of tablets, troches, or capsules. Pharmaceutically compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can be included as part of the composition.

The tablets, pills, capsules, troches and the like can contain any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a dispersing agent such as alginic acid or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring. When the dosage unit form is a capsule, it can contain, in addition to material herein discussed, a liquid carrier such as a fatty oil. In addition, dosage unit forms can contain various other materials which modify the physical form of the dosage unit, for example, coatings of sugar, shellac, or enteric agents.

Formulations of the present invention suitable for oral administration may be presented as discrete units such as capsules, cachets or tablets each containing a predetermined amount of the active ingredient; as a powder or granules; as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous liquid or a non-aqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water liquid emulsion or a water-in-oil emulsion and as a bolus, etc.

A tablet may be made by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing in a suitable machine the active ingredient in a free-flowing form such as a powder or granules, optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, preservative, surface-active or dispersing agent. Molded tablets may be made by molding in a suitable machine a mixture of the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent. The tablets optionally may be coated or scored and may be formulated so as to provide slow or controlled release of the active ingredient therein.

Methods of formulating such slow or controlled release compositions of pharmaceutically active ingredients, are known in the art and described in several issued US Patents, some of which include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,870,790; 4,226,859; 4,369,172; 4,842,866 and 5,705,190, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Coatings can be used for delivery of compounds to the intestine (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,638,534, 5,541,171, 5,217,720, and 6,569,457, and references cited therein).

The active compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof may also be administered as a component of an elixir, suspension, syrup, wafer, chewing gum or the like. A syrup may contain, in addition to the active compounds, sucrose or fructose as a sweetening agent and certain preservatives, dyes and colorings and flavors.

Solutions or suspensions used for ocular, parenteral, intradermal, subcutaneous, or topical application can include the following components: a sterile diluent such as water for injection, saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propylene glycol or other synthetic solvents; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl parabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; buffers such as acetates, citrates or phosphates; and agents for the adjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose.

In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is an aqueous solvent, i.e., a solvent comprising water, optionally with additional co-solvents. Exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include water, buffer solutions in water (such as phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and 5% dextrose in water (DSW). In certain embodiments, the aqueous solvent further comprises dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), e.g., in an amount of about 1-4%, or 1-3%. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is isotonic (i.e., has substantially the same osmotic pressure as a body fluid such as plasma).

In one embodiment, the active compounds are prepared with carriers that protect the compound against rapid elimination from the body, such as a controlled release formulation, including implants and microencapsulated delivery systems. Biodegradable, biocompatible polymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, polylactic acid, and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA). Methods for preparation of such formulations are within the ambit of the skilled artisan in view of this disclosure and the knowledge in the art.

A skilled artisan from this disclosure and the knowledge in the art recognizes that in addition to tablets, other dosage forms can be formulated to provide slow or controlled release of the active ingredient. Such dosage forms include, but are not limited to, capsules, granulations and gel-caps.

Liposomal suspensions may also be pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. These may be prepared according to methods known to those skilled in the art. For example, liposomal formulations may be prepared by dissolving appropriate lipid(s) in an inorganic solvent that is then evaporated, leaving behind a thin film of dried lipid on the surface of the container. An aqueous solution of the active compound are then introduced into the container. The container is then swirled by hand to free lipid material from the sides of the container and to disperse lipid aggregates, thereby forming the liposomal suspension. Other methods of preparation well known by those of ordinary skill may also be used in this aspect of the present invention.

The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by conventional pharmaceutical techniques. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredient and the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredient with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

Formulations and compositions suitable for topical administration in the mouth include lozenges comprising the ingredients in a flavored basis, usually sucrose and acacia or tragacanth; pastilles comprising the active ingredient in an inert basis such as gelatin and glycerin, or sucrose and acacia; and mouthwashes comprising the ingredient to be administered in a suitable liquid carrier.

Formulations suitable for topical administration to the skin may be presented as ointments, creams, gels and pastes comprising the ingredient to be administered in a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier. A preferred topical delivery system is a transdermal patch containing the ingredient to be administered.

Formulations for rectal administration may be presented as a suppository with a suitable base comprising, for example, cocoa butter or a salicylate.

Formulations suitable for nasal administration, wherein the carrier is a solid, include a coarse powder having a particle size, for example, in the range of 20 to 500 microns which is administered in the manner in which snuff is administered, i.e., by rapid inhalation through the nasal passage from a container of the powder held close up to the nose. Suitable formulations, wherein the carrier is a liquid, for administration, as for example, a nasal spray or as nasal drops, include aqueous or oily solutions of the active ingredient.

Formulations suitable for vaginal administration may be presented as pessaries, tampons, creams, gels, pastes, foams or spray formulations containing in addition to the active ingredient such carriers as are known in the art to be appropriate.

The parenteral preparation can be enclosed in ampoules, disposable syringes or multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic. If administered intravenously, preferred carriers include, for example, physiological saline or phosphate buffered saline (PBS).

For parenteral formulations, the carrier usually comprises sterile water or aqueous sodium chloride solution, though other ingredients including those which aid dispersion may be included. Of course, where sterile water is to be used and maintained as sterile, the compositions and carriers are also sterilized. Injectable suspensions may also be prepared, in which case appropriate liquid carriers, suspending agents and the like may be employed.

Formulations suitable for parenteral administration include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which may contain antioxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which may include suspending agents and thickening agents. The formulations may be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example, sealed ampules and vials, and may be stored in a freeze-dried (lyophilized) condition requiring only the addition of the sterile liquid carrier, for example, water for injections, immediately prior to use. Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions may be prepared from sterile powders, granules and tablets of the kind previously described.

Administration of the active compound may range from continuous (intravenous drip) to several oral administrations per day (for example, Q.I.D.) and may include oral, topical, eye or ocular, parenteral, intramuscular, intravenous, sub-cutaneous, transdermal (which may include a penetration enhancement agent), buccal and suppository administration, among other routes of administration, including through an eye or ocular route.

The neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and the at least one checkpoint inhibitor, and any additional agents, may be administered by injection, orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, rectally, vaginally, or topically in dosage unit formulations containing conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, adjuvants, and vehicles. The term parenteral as used herein includes, into a lymph node or nodes, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intrasternal, infusion techniques, intraperitoneally, eye or ocular, intravitreal, intrabuccal, transdermal, intranasal, into the brain, including intracranial and intradural, into the joints, including ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists, directly into tumors, and the like, and in suppository form.

In certain embodiments, the vaccine or immunogenic composition or the one of more checkpoint inhibitors are administered intravenously or subcutaneously.

Application of the subject therapeutics may be local, so as to be administered at the site of interest. In certain embodiments, the checkpoint inhibitor is administered subcutaneously near the site of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition, for example within about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 cm of the site of vaccine or immunogenic composition administration, and preferably within 5 cm of the site of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition. It is to be understood by one skilled in the art administering the compositions that the concentration of the checkpoint inhibitor administered to the subject may be changed based on the location of administration. For example, if the checkpoint inhibitor is administered near the site of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition, then the concentration of the checkpoint inhibitor may be decreased.

Various techniques can be used for providing the subject compositions at the site of interest, such as injection, use of catheters, trocars, projectiles, pluronic gel, stents, sustained drug release polymers or other device which provides for internal access. Where an organ or tissue is accessible because of removal from the patient, such organ or tissue may be bathed in a medium containing the subject compositions, the subject compositions may be painted onto the organ, or may be applied in any convenient way.

The tumor specific neoantigenic peptides may be administered through a device suitable for the controlled and sustained release of a composition effective in obtaining a desired local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect. The method includes positioning the sustained released drug delivery system at an area wherein release of the agent is desired and allowing the agent to pass through the device to the desired area of treatment.

The tumor specific neoantigenic peptides may be utilized in combination with at least one known other therapeutic agent, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said agent. Examples of known therapeutic agents which can be used for combination therapy include, but are not limited to, corticosteroids (e.g., cortisone, prednisone, dexamethasone), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) (e.g., ibuprofen, celecoxib, aspirin, indomethicin, naproxen), alkylating agents such as busulfan, cis-platin, mitomycin C, and carboplatin; antimitotic agents such as colchicine, vinblastine, paclitaxel, and docetaxel; topo I inhibitors such as camptothecin and topotecan; topo II inhibitors such as doxorubicin and etoposide; and/or RNA/DNA antimetabolites such as 5-azacytidine, 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate; DNA antimetabolites such as 5-fluoro-2′-deoxy-uridine, ara-C, hydroxyurea and thioguanine; antibodies such as HERCEPTIN and RITUXAN.

It should be understood that in addition to the ingredients particularly mentioned herein, the formulations of the present invention may include other agents conventional in the art having regard to the type of formulation in question, for example, those suitable for oral administration may include flavoring agents.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms may be the preferred chemical form of compounds according to the present invention for inclusion in pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention.

The present compounds or their derivatives, including prodrug forms of these agents, can be provided in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts. As used herein, the term pharmaceutically acceptable salts or complexes refers to appropriate salts or complexes of the active compounds according to the present invention which retain the desired biological activity of the parent compound and exhibit limited toxicological effects to normal cells. Nonlimiting examples of such salts are (a) acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids (for example, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, and the like), and salts formed with organic acids such as acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, tannic acid, pamoic acid, alginic acid, and polyglutamic acid, among others; (b) base addition salts formed with metal cations such as zinc, calcium, sodium, potassium, and the like, among numerous others.

The compounds herein are commercially available or can be synthesized. As can be appreciated by the skilled artisan, further methods of synthesizing the compounds of the formulae herein is evident to those of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, the various synthetic steps may be performed in an alternate sequence or order to give the desired compounds. Synthetic chemistry transformations and protecting group methodologies (protection and deprotection) useful in synthesizing the compounds described herein are known in the art and include, for example, those such as described in R. Larock, Comprehensive Organic Transformations, 2nd. Ed., Wiley-VCH Publishers (1999); T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd. Ed., John Wiley and Sons (1999); L. Fieser and M. Fieser, Fieser and Fieser's Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1999); and L. Paquette, ed., Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1995), and subsequent editions thereof.

Dosage

When the agents described herein are administered as pharmaceuticals to humans or animals, they can be given per se or as a pharmaceutical composition containing active ingredient in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or diluent.

Actual dosage levels and time course of administration of the active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active ingredient which is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular patient, composition, and mode of administration, without being toxic to the patient. Generally, agents or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are administered in an amount sufficient to reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with viral infection and/or autoimmune disease.

A preferred dose of an agent is the maximum that a patient can tolerate and not develop serious or unacceptable side effects.

Determination of an effective amount is well within the capability of those skilled in the art, especially in light of the detailed disclosure provided herein. Generally, an efficacious or effective amount of an agent is determined by first administering a low dose of the agent(s) and then incrementally increasing the administered dose or dosages until a desired effect (e.g., reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with viral infection or autoimmune disease) is observed in the treated subject, with minimal or acceptable toxic side effects. Applicable methods for determining an appropriate dose and dosing schedule for administration of a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention are described, for example, in Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Goodman et al., eds., 11th Edition, McGraw-Hill 2005, and Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20th and 21st Editions, Gennaro and University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Eds., Lippencott Williams & Wilkins (2003 and 2005), each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Preferred unit dosage formulations are those containing a daily dose or unit, daily sub-dose, as herein discussed, or an appropriate fraction thereof, of the administered ingredient.

The dosage regimen for treating a disorder or a disease with the tumor specific neoantigenic peptides of this invention and/or compositions of this invention is based on a variety of factors, including the type of disease, the age, weight, sex, medical condition of the patient, the severity of the condition, the route of administration, and the particular compound employed. Thus, the dosage regimen may vary widely, but can be determined routinely using standard methods.

The amounts and dosage regimens administered to a subject can depend on a number of factors, such as the mode of administration, the nature of the condition being treated, the body weight of the subject being treated and the judgment of the prescribing physician; all such factors being within the ambit of the skilled artisan from this disclosure and the knowledge in the art.

The amount of compound included within therapeutically active formulations according to the present invention is an effective amount for treating the disease or condition.

In general, a therapeutically effective amount of the present preferred compound in dosage form usually ranges from slightly less than about 0.025 mg/kg/day to about 2.5 g/kg/day, preferably about 0.1 mg/kg/day to about 100 mg/kg/day of the patient or considerably more, depending upon the compound used, the condition or infection treated and the route of administration, although exceptions to this dosage range may be contemplated by the present invention. In its most preferred form, compounds according to the present invention are administered in amounts ranging from about 1 mg/kg/day to about 100 mg/kg/day. The dosage of the compound can depend on the condition being treated, the particular compound, and other clinical factors such as weight and condition of the patient and the route of administration of the compound. It is to be understood that the present invention has application for both human and veterinary use.

According to certain exemplary embodiments, the vaccine or immunogenic composition is administered at a dose of about 10 μg-1 mg per neoantigenic peptide. According to certain exemplary embodiments, the vaccine or immunogenic composition is administered at an average weekly dose level of about 10 μg-2000 μg per neoantigenic peptide. According to certain exemplary embodiments, the checkpoint inhibitor is administered at a dose of about 0.1-10 mg/kg. According to certain exemplary embodiments, the anti-CTLA4 antibody is administered at a dose of about 1 mg/kg-3 mg/kg. For example, in certain exemplary embodiments, Nivolumab isgin dosing at the standard single agent dosing level of 3 mg/kg. When the one or more checkpoint inhibitors are administered at the site of administration of the vaccine or immunogenic composition, the inhibitor is preferably administered at a dose of about 0.1-1 mg per site of administration of the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition.

Preferred embodiments use the concentrations and timings used in clinical trials for checkpoint inhibitors, alone or in combination with a neoantigen vaccine or immunogenic composition. Topalian, et al. N Engl J Med 2012; 366:2443-2454 describes a phase 1 study that assessed the safety, antitumor activity, and pharmacokinetics of BMS-936558, a fully human IgG4-blocking monoclonal antibody directed against PD-1, in patients in need thereof with selected advanced solid tumors. The antibody was administered as an intravenous infusion every 2 weeks of each 8-week treatment cycle. Response was assessed after each treatment cycle. Patients received treatment for up to 2 years (12 cycles). Patients with advanced melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, renal-cell cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer, or colorectal cancer were enrolled. Cohorts of three to six patients per dose level were enrolled sequentially at doses of 1.0, 3.0, or 10.0 mg per kilogram of body weight. Initially, five expansion cohorts of approximately 16 patients each were enrolled at doses of 10.0 mg per kilogram for melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, renal-cell cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer. On the basis of initial signals of activity, additional expansion cohorts of approximately 16 patients each were enrolled for melanoma (at a dose of 1.0 or 3.0 mg per kilogram, followed by cohorts randomly assigned to 0.1, 0.3, or 1.0 mg per kilogram), lung cancer (patients with the squamous or nonsquamous subtype, randomly assigned to a dose of 1.0, 3.0, or 10.0 mg per kilogram), and renal-cell cancer (at a dose of 1.0 mg per kilogram).

Wolchok, et al. N Engl J Med 2013; 369:122-133, describes a clinical trial using Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab in advanced melanoma. In the study patients were administered intravenous doses of nivolumab and ipilimumab every 3 weeks for 4 doses, followed by nivolumab alone every 3 weeks for 4 doses. The combined treatment was subsequently administered every 12 weeks for up to 8 doses. In a sequenced regimen, patients previously treated with ipilimumab received nivolumab every 2 weeks for up to 48 doses. The maximum doses that were associated with an acceptable level of adverse events were nivolumab at a dose of 1 mg per kilogram of body weight and ipilimumab at a dose of 3 mg per kilogram.

Wolchok et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 15, 7412; 2009 describes a phase II clinical trial program with ipilimumab. Patients were treated with induction therapy (ipilimumab 10 mg/kg every 3 wk×4) followed by maintenance therapy in eligible patients (ipilimumab 10 mg/kg every 12 wk, beginning at week 24).

Hamid et al., N Engl J Med 2013; 369:134-144, describes safety and tumor responses with Lambrolizumab (Anti-PD-1) in melanoma. Patients with advanced melanoma were administered lambrolizumab intravenously at a dose of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight every 2 or 3 weeks or 2 mg per kilogram every 3 weeks. Patients included both those who had received prior treatment with the immune checkpoint inhibitor ipilimumab and those who had not.

Spigel et al., J Clin Oncol 31, 2013 (suppl; abstr 8008) describe a phase I trial for MPDL3280A, a human monoclonal Ab containing an engineered Fc-domain designed to optimize efficacy and safety, targeting PD-L1. Patients with squamous or nonsquamous NSCLC received MPDL3280A by IV at doses between 1-20 mg/kg for up to 1 y.

The concentration of active compound in the drug composition will depend on absorption, distribution, inactivation, and excretion rates of the drug as well as other factors known to those of skill in the art. It is to be noted that dosage values will also vary with the severity of the condition to be alleviated. It is to be further understood that for any particular subject, specific dosage regimens should be adjusted over time according to the individual need and the professional judgment of the person administering or supervising the administration of the compositions, and that the concentration ranges set forth herein are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope or practice of the claimed composition. The active ingredient may be administered at once, or may be divided into a number of smaller doses to be administered at varying intervals of time.

The invention provides for pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one tumor specific neoantigen described herein. In embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions contain a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or diluent, which includes any pharmaceutical agent that does not itself induce the production of an immune response harmful to a subject receiving the composition, and which may be administered without undue toxicity. As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable” means being approved by a regulatory agency of the Federal or a state government or listed in the U.S. Pharmacopia, European Pharmacopia or other generally recognized pharmacopia for use in mammals, and more particularly in humans. These compositions can be useful for treating and/or preventing viral infection and/or autoimmune disease.

A thorough discussion of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, and other excipients is presented in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (17th ed., Mack Publishing Company) and Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy (21st ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins), which are hereby incorporated by reference. The formulation of the pharmaceutical composition should suit the mode of administration. In embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is suitable for administration to humans, and can be sterile, non-particulate and/or non-pyrogenic.

Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, or diluents include, but are not limited, to saline, buffered saline, dextrose, water, glycerol, ethanol, sterile isotonic aqueous buffer, and combinations thereof.

Wetting agents, emulsifiers and lubricants, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and magnesium stearate, as well as coloring agents, release agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoring and perfuming agents, preservatives, and antioxidants can also be present in the compositions.

Examples of pharmaceutically-acceptable antioxidants include, but are not limited to: (1) water soluble antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, cysteine hydrochloride, sodium bisulfate, sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite and the like; (2) oil-soluble antioxidants, such as ascorbyl palmitate, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), lecithin, propyl gallate, alpha-tocopherol, and the like; and (3) metal chelating agents, such as citric acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), sorbitol, tartaric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like.

In embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is provided in a solid form, such as a lyophilized powder suitable for reconstitution, a liquid solution, suspension, emulsion, tablet, pill, capsule, sustained release formulation, or powder.

In embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is supplied in liquid form, for example, in a sealed container indicating the quantity and concentration of the active ingredient in the pharmaceutical composition. In related embodiments, the liquid form of the pharmaceutical composition is supplied in a hermetically sealed container.

Methods for formulating the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are conventional and well known in the art (see Remington and Remington's). One of skill in the art can readily formulate a pharmaceutical composition having the desired characteristics (e.g., route of administration, biosafety, and release profile).

Methods for preparing the pharmaceutical compositions include the step of bringing into association the active ingredient with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and, optionally, one or more accessory ingredients. The pharmaceutical compositions can be prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredient with liquid carriers, or finely divided solid carriers, or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product. Additional methodology for preparing the pharmaceutical compositions, including the preparation of multilayer dosage forms, are described in Ansel's Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems (9th ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for oral administration can be in the form of capsules, cachets, pills, tablets, lozenges (using a flavored basis, usually sucrose and acacia or tragacanth), powders, granules, or as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid, or as an oil-in-water or water-in-oil liquid emulsion, or as an elixir or syrup, or as pastilles (using an inert base, such as gelatin and glycerin, or sucrose and acacia) and/or as mouth washes and the like, each containing a predetermined amount of a compound(s) described herein, a derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof as the active ingredient(s). The active ingredient can also be administered as a bolus, electuary, or paste.

In solid dosage forms for oral administration (e.g., capsules, tablets, pills, dragees, powders, granules and the like), the active ingredient is mixed with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, or diluents, such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate, and/or any of the following: (1) fillers or extenders, such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and/or silicic acid; (2) binders, such as, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, sucrose and/or acacia; (3) humectants, such as glycerol; (4) disintegrating agents, such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate; (5) solution retarding agents, such as paraffin; (6) absorption accelerators, such as quaternary ammonium compounds; (7) wetting agents, such as, for example, acetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate; (8) absorbents, such as kaolin and bentonite clay; (9) lubricants, such a talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, and mixtures thereof; and (10) coloring agents. In the case of capsules, tablets, and pills, the pharmaceutical compositions can also comprise buffering agents. Solid compositions of a similar type can also be prepared using fillers in soft and hard-filled gelatin capsules, and excipients such as lactose or milk sugars, as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like.

A tablet can be made by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets can be prepared using binders (for example, gelatin or hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose), lubricants, inert diluents, preservatives, disintegrants (for example, sodium starch glycolate or cross-linked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), surface-actives, and/or dispersing agents. Molded tablets can be made by molding in a suitable machine a mixture of the powdered active ingredient moistened with an inert liquid diluent.

The tablets and other solid dosage forms, such as dragees, capsules, pills, and granules, can optionally be scored or prepared with coatings and shells, such as enteric coatings and other coatings well known in the art.

In some embodiments, in order to prolong the effect of an active ingredient, it is desirable to slow the absorption of the compound from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This can be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material having poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the active ingredient then depends upon its rate of dissolution which, in turn, can depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally-administered active ingredient is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the compound in an oil vehicle. In addition, prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form can be brought about by the inclusion of agents that delay absorption such as aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Controlled release parenteral compositions can be in form of aqueous suspensions, microspheres, microcapsules, magnetic microspheres, oil solutions, oil suspensions, emulsions, or the active ingredient can be incorporated in biocompatible carrier(s), liposomes, nanoparticles, implants or infusion devices.

Materials for use in the preparation of microspheres and/or microcapsules include biodegradable/bioerodible polymers such as polyglactin, poly-(isobutyl cyanoacrylate), poly(2-hydroxyethyl-L-glutamine) and poly(lactic acid).

Biocompatible carriers which can be used when formulating a controlled release parenteral formulation include carbohydrates such as dextrans, proteins such as albumin, lipoproteins or antibodies.

Materials for use in implants can be non-biodegradable, e.g., polydimethylsiloxane, or biodegradable such as, e.g., poly(caprolactone), poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid) or poly(ortho esters).

In embodiments, the active ingredient(s) are administered by aerosol. This is accomplished by preparing an aqueous aerosol, liposomal preparation, or solid particles containing the compound. A nonaqueous (e.g., fluorocarbon propellant) suspension can be used. The pharmaceutical composition can also be administered using a sonic nebulizer, which would minimize exposing the agent to shear, which can result in degradation of the compound.

Ordinarily, an aqueous aerosol is made by formulating an aqueous solution or suspension of the active ingredient(s) together with conventional pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers and stabilizers. The carriers and stabilizers vary with the requirements of the particular compound, but typically include nonionic surfactants (Tweens, Pluronics, or polyethylene glycol), innocuous proteins like serum albumin, sorbitan esters, oleic acid, lecithin, amino acids such as glycine, buffers, salts, sugars or sugar alcohols. Aerosols generally are prepared from isotonic solutions.

Dosage forms for topical or transdermal administration of an active ingredient(s) includes powders, sprays, ointments, pastes, creams, lotions, gels, solutions, patches and inhalants. The active ingredient(s) can be mixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and with any preservatives, buffers, or propellants as appropriate.

Transdermal patches suitable for use in the present invention are disclosed in Transdermal Drug Delivery: Developmental Issues and Research Initiatives (Marcel Dekker Inc., 1989) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,743,249, 4,906,169, 5,198,223, 4,816,540, 5,422,119, 5,023,084, which are hereby incorporated by reference. The transdermal patch can also be any transdermal patch well known in the art, including transscrotal patches. Pharmaceutical compositions in such transdermal patches can contain one or more absorption enhancers or skin permeation enhancers well known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,379,454 and 4,973,468, which are hereby incorporated by reference). Transdermal therapeutic systems for use in the present invention can be based on iontophoresis, diffusion, or a combination of these two effects.

Transdermal patches have the added advantage of providing controlled delivery of active ingredient(s) to the body. Such dosage forms can be made by dissolving or dispersing the active ingredient(s) in a proper medium. Absorption enhancers can also be used to increase the flux of the active ingredient across the skin. The rate of such flux can be controlled by either providing a rate controlling membrane or dispersing the active ingredient(s) in a polymer matrix or gel.

Such pharmaceutical compositions can be in the form of creams, ointments, lotions, liniments, gels, hydrogels, solutions, suspensions, sticks, sprays, pastes, plasters and other kinds of transdermal drug delivery systems. The compositions can also include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients such as emulsifying agents, antioxidants, buffering agents, preservatives, humectants, penetration enhancers, chelating agents, gel-forming agents, ointment bases, perfumes, and skin protective agents.

Examples of emulsifying agents include, but are not limited to, naturally occurring gums, e.g. gum acacia or gum tragacanth, naturally occurring phosphatides, e.g. soybean lecithin and sorbitan monooleate derivatives.

Examples of antioxidants include, but are not limited to, butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA), ascorbic acid and derivatives thereof, tocopherol and derivatives thereof, and cysteine.

Examples of preservatives include, but are not limited to, parabens, such as methyl or propyl p-hydroxybenzoate and benzalkonium chloride.

Examples of humectants include, but are not limited to, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol and urea.

Examples of penetration enhancers include, but are not limited to, propylene glycol, DMSO, triethanolamine, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, 2-pyrrolidone and derivatives thereof, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol monoethyl or monomethyl ether with propylene glycol monolaurate or methyl laurate, eucalyptol, lecithin, TRANSCUTOL, and AZONE.

Examples of chelating agents include, but are not limited to, sodium EDTA, citric acid and phosphoric acid.

Examples of gel forming agents include, but are not limited to, Carbopol, cellulose derivatives, bentonite, alginates, gelatin and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

In addition to the active ingredient(s), the ointments, pastes, creams, and gels of the present invention can contain excipients, such as animal and vegetable fats, oils, waxes, paraffins, starch, tragacanth, cellulose derivatives, polyethylene glycols, silicones, bentonites, silicic acid, talc and zinc oxide, or mixtures thereof.

Powders and sprays can contain excipients such as lactose, talc, silicic acid, aluminum hydroxide, calcium silicates and polyamide powder, or mixtures of these substances. Sprays can additionally contain customary propellants, such as chlorofluorohydrocarbons, and volatile unsubstituted hydrocarbons, such as butane and propane.

Injectable depot forms are made by forming microencapsule matrices of compound(s) of the invention in biodegradable polymers such as polylactide-polyglycolide. Depending on the ratio of compound to polymer, and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of compound release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations are also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions which are compatible with body tissue.

Subcutaneous implants are well known in the art and are suitable for use in the present invention. Subcutaneous implantation methods are preferably non-irritating and mechanically resilient. The implants can be of matrix type, of reservoir type, or hybrids thereof. In matrix type devices, the carrier material can be porous or non-porous, solid or semi-solid, and permeable or impermeable to the active compound or compounds. The carrier material can be biodegradable or may slowly erode after administration. In some instances, the matrix is non-degradable but instead relies on the diffusion of the active compound through the matrix for the carrier material to degrade. Alternative subcutaneous implant methods utilize reservoir devices where the active compound or compounds are surrounded by a rate controlling membrane, e.g., a membrane independent of component concentration (possessing zero-order kinetics). Devices consisting of a matrix surrounded by a rate controlling membrane also suitable for use.

Both reservoir and matrix type devices can contain materials such as polydimethylsiloxane, such as SILASTIC, or other silicone rubbers. Matrix materials can be insoluble polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, ethylvinyl acetate, polystyrene and polymethacrylate, as well as glycerol esters of the glycerol palmitostearate, glycerol stearate, and glycerol behenate type. Materials can be hydrophobic or hydrophilic polymers and optionally contain solubilizing agents.

Subcutaneous implant devices can be slow-release capsules made with any suitable polymer, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,035,891 and 4,210,644, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In general, at least four different approaches are applicable in order to provide rate control over the release and transdermal permeation of a drug compound. These approaches are: membrane-moderated systems, adhesive diffusion-controlled systems, matrix dispersion-type systems and microreservoir systems. It is appreciated that a controlled release percutaneous and/or topical composition can be obtained by using a suitable mixture of these approaches.

In a membrane-moderated system, the active ingredient is present in a reservoir which is totally encapsulated in a shallow compartment molded from a drug-impermeable laminate, such as a metallic plastic laminate, and a rate-controlling polymeric membrane such as a microporous or a non-porous polymeric membrane, e.g., ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The active ingredient is released through the rate controlling polymeric membrane. In the drug reservoir, the active ingredient can either be dispersed in a solid polymer matrix or suspended in an unleachable, viscous liquid medium such as silicone fluid. On the external surface of the polymeric membrane, a thin layer of an adhesive polymer is applied to achieve an intimate contact of the transdermal system with the skin surface. The adhesive polymer is preferably a polymer which is hypoallergenic and compatible with the active drug substance.

In an adhesive diffusion-controlled system, a reservoir of the active ingredient is formed by directly dispersing the active ingredient in an adhesive polymer and then by, e.g., solvent casting, spreading the adhesive containing the active ingredient onto a flat sheet of substantially drug-impermeable metallic plastic backing to form a thin drug reservoir layer.

A matrix dispersion-type system is characterized in that a reservoir of the active ingredient is formed by substantially homogeneously dispersing the active ingredient in a hydrophilic or lipophilic polymer matrix. The drug-containing polymer is then molded into disc with a substantially well-defined surface area and controlled thickness. The adhesive polymer is spread along the circumference to form a strip of adhesive around the disc.

A microreservoir system can be considered as a combination of the reservoir and matrix dispersion type systems. In this case, the reservoir of the active substance is formed by first suspending the drug solids in an aqueous solution of water-soluble polymer and then dispersing the drug suspension in a lipophilic polymer to form a multiplicity of unleachable, microscopic spheres of drug reservoirs.

Any of the herein-described controlled release, extended release, and sustained release compositions can be formulated to release the active ingredient in about 30 minutes to about 1 week, in about 30 minutes to about 72 hours, in about 30 minutes to 24 hours, in about 30 minutes to 12 hours, in about 30 minutes to 6 hours, in about 30 minutes to 4 hours, and in about 3 hours to 10 hours. In embodiments, an effective concentration of the active ingredient(s) is sustained in a subject for 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 10 hours, 12 hours, 16 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, or more after administration of the pharmaceutical compositions to the subject.

Vaccine or Immunogenic Compositions

The present invention is directed to methods of combination treatment. The combination treatment comprises at least an immunogenic composition, e.g., a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition capable of raising a specific T-cell response. The neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition comprises neoantigenic peptides and/or neoantigenic polypeptides corresponding to tumor specific neoantigens identified by the methods described herein. The combination treatment also comprises at least one checkpoint inhibitor. In particular, the present invention is directed to methods of treating or preventing a neoplasia comprising the steps of administering to a subject (a) a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition, and (b) at least one checkpoint inhibitor.

A suitable neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition can preferably contain a plurality of tumor specific neoantigenic peptides. In an embodiment, the vaccine or immunogenic composition can include between 1 and 100 sets of peptides, more preferably between 1 and 50 such peptides, even more preferably between 10 and 30 sets peptides, even more preferably between 15 and 25 peptides. According to another preferred embodiment, the vaccine or immunogenic composition can include at least one peptides, more preferably 2, 3, 4, or 5 peptides, In certain embodiments, the vaccine or immunogenic composition can comprise 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 different peptides.

The optimum amount of each peptide to be included in the vaccine or immunogenic composition and the optimum dosing regimen can be determined by one skilled in the art without undue experimentation. For example, the peptide or its variant may be prepared for intravenous (i.v.) injection, sub-cutaneous (s.c.) injection, intradermal (i.d.) injection, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, intramuscular (i.m.) injection. Preferred methods of peptide injection include s.c, i.d., i.p., i.m., and i.v. Preferred methods of DNA injection include i.d., i.m., s.c, i.p. and i.v. For example, doses of between 1 and 500 mg 50 μg and 1.5 mg, preferably 10 μg to 500 μg, of peptide or DNA may be given and can depend from the respective peptide or DNA. Doses of this range were successfully used in previous trials (Brunsvig P F, et al., Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2006; 55(12): 1553-1564; M. Staehler, et al., ASCO meeting 2007; Abstract No 3017). Other methods of administration of the vaccine or immunogenic composition are known to those skilled in the art.

In one embodiment of the present invention the different tumor specific neoantigenic peptides and/or polypeptides are selected for use in the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition so as to maximize the likelihood of generating an immune attack against the neoplasia/tumor of the patient. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the inclusion of a diversity of tumor specific neoantigenic peptides can generate a broad scale immune attack against a neoplasia/tumor. In one embodiment, the selected tumor specific neoantigenic peptides/polypeptides are encoded by missense mutations. In a second embodiment, the selected tumor specific neoantigenic peptides/polypeptides are encoded by a combination of missense mutations and neoORF mutations. In a third embodiment, the selected tumor specific neoantigenic peptides/polypeptides are encoded by neoORF mutations.

In one embodiment in which the selected tumor specific neoantigenic peptides/polypeptides are encoded by missense mutations, the peptides and/or polypeptides are chosen based on their capability to associate with the particular MHC molecules of the patient. Peptides/polypeptides derived from neoORF mutations can also be selected on the basis of their capability to associate with the particular MHC molecules of the patient, but can also be selected even if not predicted to associate with the particular MHC molecules of the patient.

The vaccine or immunogenic composition is capable of raising a specific cytotoxic T-cells response and/or a specific helper T-cell response.

The vaccine or immunogenic composition can further comprise an adjuvant and/or a carrier. Examples of useful adjuvants and carriers are given herein. The peptides and/or polypeptides in the composition can be associated with a carrier such as, e.g., a protein or an antigen-presenting cell such as e.g. a dendritic cell (DC) capable of presenting the peptide to a T-cell.

Adjuvants are any substance whose admixture into the vaccine or immunogenic composition increases or otherwise modifies the immune response to the mutant peptide. Carriers are scaffold structures, for example a polypeptide or a polysaccharide, to which the neoantigenic peptides, is capable of being associated. Optionally, adjuvants are conjugated covalently or non-covalently to the peptides or polypeptides of the invention.

The ability of an adjuvant to increase the immune response to an antigen is typically manifested by a significant increase in immune-mediated reaction, or reduction in disease symptoms. For example, an increase in humoral immunity is typically manifested by a significant increase in the titer of antibodies raised to the antigen, and an increase in T-cell activity is typically manifested in increased cell proliferation, or cellular cytotoxicity, or cytokine secretion. An adjuvant may also alter an immune response, for example, by changing a primarily humoral or Th2 response into a primarily cellular, or Th1 response.

Suitable adjuvants include, but are not limited to 1018 ISS, aluminum salts, Amplivax, AS15, BCG, CP-870,893, CpG7909, CyaA, dSLIM, GM-CSF, IC30, IC31, Imiquimod, ImuFact IMP321, IS Patch, ISS, ISCOMATRIX, Juvlmmune, LipoVac, MF59, monophosphoryl lipid A, Montanide IMS 1312, Montanide ISA 206, Montanide ISA 50V, Montanide ISA-51, OK-432, OM-174, OM-197-MP-EC, ONTAK, PEPTEL, vector system, PLG microparticles, resiquimod, SRL172, Virosomes and other Virus-like particles, YF-17D, VEGF trap, R848, beta-glucan, Pam3Cys, Aquila's QS21 stimulon (Aquila Biotech, Worcester, Mass., USA) which is derived from saponin, mycobacterial extracts and synthetic bacterial cell wall mimics, and other proprietary adjuvants such as Ribi's Detox. Quil or Superfos. Several immunological adjuvants (e.g., MF59) specific for dendritic cells and their preparation have been described previously (Dupuis M, et al., Cell Immunol. 1998; 186(1): 18-27; Allison A C; Dev Biol Stand. 1998; 92:3-11). Also cytokines may be used. Several cytokines have been directly linked to influencing dendritic cell migration to lymphoid tissues (e.g., TNF-alpha), accelerating the maturation of dendritic cells into efficient antigen-presenting cells for T-lymphocytes (e.g., GM-CSF, IL-1 and IL-4) (U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,589, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) and acting as immunoadjuvants (e.g., IL-12) (Gabrilovich D I, et al., J Immunother Emphasis Tumor Immunol. 1996 (6):414-418).

Toll like receptors (TLRs) may also be used as adjuvants, and are important members of the family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) which recognize conserved motifs shared by many micro-organisms, termed “pathogen-associated molecular patterns” (PAMPS). Recognition of these “danger signals” activates multiple elements of the innate and adaptive immune system. TLRs are expressed by cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems such as dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, T and B cells, mast cells, and granulocytes and are localized in different cellular compartments, such as the plasma membrane, lysosomes, endosomes, and endolysosomes. Different TLRs recognize distinct PAMPS. For example, TLR4 is activated by LPS contained in bacterial cell walls, TLR9 is activated by unmethylated bacterial or viral CpG DNA, and TLR3 is activated by double stranded RNA. TLR ligand binding leads to the activation of one or more intracellular signaling pathways, ultimately resulting in the production of many key molecules associated with inflammation and immunity (particularly the transcription factor NF-κB and the Type-I interferons). TLR mediated DC activation leads to enhanced DC activation, phagocytosis, upregulation of activation and co-stimulation markers such as CD80, CD83, and CD86, expression of CCR7 allowing migration of DC to draining lymph nodes and facilitating antigen presentation to T cells, as well as increased secretion of cytokines such as type I interferons, IL-12, and IL-6. All of these downstream events are critical for the induction of an adaptive immune response.

Among the most promising cancer vaccine or immunogenic composition adjuvants currently in clinical development are the TLR9 agonist CpG and the synthetic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) TLR3 ligand poly-ICLC. In preclinical studies poly-ICLC appears to be the most potent TLR adjuvant when compared to LPS and CpG due to its induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lack of stimulation of IL-10, as well as maintenance of high levels of co-stimulatory molecules in DCsl. Furthermore, poly-ICLC was recently directly compared to CpG in non-human primates (rhesus macaques) as adjuvant for a protein vaccine or immunogenic composition consisting of human papillomavirus (HPV)16 capsomers (Stahl-Hennig C, Eisenblatter M, Jasny E, et al. Synthetic double-stranded RNAs are adjuvants for the induction of T helper 1 and humoral immune responses to human papillomavirus in rhesus macaques. PLoS pathogens. April 2009; 5(4)).

CpG immuno stimulatory oligonucleotides have also been reported to enhance the effects of adjuvants in a vaccine or immunogenic composition setting. Without being bound by theory, CpG oligonucleotides act by activating the innate (non-adaptive) immune system via Toll-like receptors (TLR), mainly TLR9. CpG triggered TLR9 activation enhances antigen-specific humoral and cellular responses to a wide variety of antigens, including peptide or protein antigens, live or killed viruses, dendritic cell vaccines, autologous cellular vaccines and polysaccharide conjugates in both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. More importantly, it enhances dendritic cell maturation and differentiation, resulting in enhanced activation of Th1 cells and strong cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) generation, even in the absence of CD4 T-cell help. The Th1 bias induced by TLR9 stimulation is maintained even in the presence of vaccine adjuvants such as alum or incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) that normally promote a Th2 bias. CpG oligonucleotides show even greater adjuvant activity when formulated or co-administered with other adjuvants or in formulations such as microparticles, nano particles, lipid emulsions or similar formulations, which are especially necessary for inducing a strong response when the antigen is relatively weak. They also accelerate the immune response and enabled the antigen doses to be reduced by approximately two orders of magnitude, with comparable antibody responses to the full-dose vaccine without CpG in some experiments (Arthur M. Krieg, Nature Reviews, Drug Discovery, 5, June 2006, 471-484). U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,705 B1 describes the combined use of CpG oligonucleotides, non-nucleic acid adjuvants and an antigen to induce an antigen-specific immune response. A commercially available CpG TLR9 antagonist is dSLIM (double Stem Loop Immunomodulator) by Mologen (Berlin, GERMANY), which is a preferred component of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. Other TLR binding molecules such as RNA binding TLR 7, TLR 8 and/or TLR 9 may also be used.

Other examples of useful adjuvants include, but are not limited to, chemically modified CpGs (e.g. CpR, Idera), Poly(I:C)(e.g. polyi:CI2U), non-CpG bacterial DNA or RNA as well as immunoactive small molecules and antibodies such as cyclophosphamide, sunitinib, bevacizumab, celebrex, NCX-4016, sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, sorafinib, XL-999, CP-547632, pazopanib, ZD2171, AZD2171, ipilimumab, tremelimumab, and SC58175, which may act therapeutically and/or as an adjuvant. The amounts and concentrations of adjuvants and additives useful in the context of the present invention can readily be determined by the skilled artisan without undue experimentation. Additional adjuvants include colony-stimulating factors, such as Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF, sargramostim).

Poly-ICLC is a synthetically prepared double-stranded RNA consisting of polyI and polyC strands of average length of about 5000 nucleotides, which has been stabilized to thermal denaturation and hydrolysis by serum nucleases by the addition of polylysine and carboxymethylcellulose. The compound activates TLR3 and the RNA helicase-domain of MDA5, both members of the PAMP family, leading to DC and natural killer (NK) cell activation and production of a “natural mix” of type I interferons, cytokines, and chemokines. Furthermore, poly-ICLC exerts a more direct, broad host-targeted anti-infectious and possibly antitumor effect mediated by the two IFN-inducible nuclear enzyme systems, the 2′5′-OAS and the P1/eIF2a kinase, also known as the PKR (4-6), as well as RIG-I helicase and MDA5.

In rodents and non-human primates, poly-ICLC was shown to enhance T cell responses to viral antigens, cross-priming, and the induction of tumor-, virus-, and autoantigen-specific CD8+ T-cells. In a recent study in non-human primates, poly-ICLC was found to be essential for the generation of antibody responses and T-cell immunity to DC targeted or non-targeted HIV Gag p24 protein, emphasizing its effectiveness as a vaccine adjuvant.

In human subjects, transcriptional analysis of serial whole blood samples revealed similar gene expression profiles among the 8 healthy human volunteers receiving one single s.c. administration of poly-ICLC and differential expression of up to 212 genes between these 8 subjects versus 4 subjects receiving placebo. Remarkably, comparison of the poly-ICLC gene expression data to previous data from volunteers immunized with the highly effective yellow fever vaccine YF17D showed that a large number of transcriptional and signal transduction canonical pathways, including those of the innate immune system, were similarly upregulated at peak time points.

More recently, an immunologic analysis was reported on patients with ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer in second or third complete clinical remission who were treated on a phase 1 study of subcutaneous vaccination with synthetic overlapping long peptides (OLP) from the cancer testis antigen NY-ESO-1 alone or with Montanide-ISA-51, or with 1.4 mg poly-ICLC and Montanide. The generation of NY-ESO-1-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell and antibody responses were markedly enhanced with the addition of poly-ICLC and Montanide compared to OLP alone or OLP and Montanide.

A vaccine or immunogenic composition according to the present invention may comprise more than one different adjuvant. Furthermore, the invention encompasses a therapeutic composition comprising any adjuvant substance including any of those herein discussed. It is also contemplated that the peptide or polypeptide, and the adjuvant can be administered separately in any appropriate sequence.

A carrier may be present independently of an adjuvant. The carrier may be covalently linked to the antigen. A carrier can also be added to the antigen by inserting DNA encoding the carrier in frame with DNA encoding the antigen. The function of a carrier can for example be to confer stability, to increase the biological activity, or to increase serum half-life. Extension of the half-life can help to reduce the number of applications and to lower doses, thus are beneficial for therapeutic but also economic reasons. Furthermore, a carrier may aid presenting peptides to T-cells. The carrier may be any suitable carrier known to the person skilled in the art, for example a protein or an antigen presenting cell. A carrier protein could be but is not limited to keyhole limpet hemocyanin, serum proteins such as transferrin, bovine serum albumin, human serum albumin, thyroglobulin or ovalbumin, immunoglobulins, or hormones, such as insulin or palmitic acid. For immunization of humans, the carrier may be a physiologically acceptable carrier acceptable to humans and safe. However, tetanus toxoid and/or diptheria toxoid are suitable carriers in one embodiment of the invention. Alternatively, the carrier may be dextrans for example sepharose.

Cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) recognize an antigen in the form of a peptide bound to an MHC molecule rather than the intact foreign antigen itself. The MHC molecule itself is located at the cell surface of an antigen presenting cell. Thus, an activation of CTLs is only possible if a trimeric complex of peptide antigen, MHC molecule, and APC is present. Correspondingly, it may enhance the immune response if not only the peptide is used for activation of CTLs, but if additionally APCs with the respective MHC molecule are added. Therefore, in some embodiments the vaccine or immunogenic composition according to the present invention additionally contains at least one antigen presenting cell. [002%] The antigen-presenting cell (or stimulator cell) typically has an MHC class I or II molecule on its surface, and in one embodiment is substantially incapable of itself loading the MHC class I or II molecule with the selected antigen. As is described in more detail herein, the MHC class I or II molecule may readily be loaded with the selected antigen in vitro.

CD8+ cell activity may be augmented through the use of CD4+ cells. The identification of CD4 T+ cell epitopes for tumor antigens has attracted interest because many immune based therapies against cancer may be more effective if both CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes are used to target a patient's tumor. CD4+ cells are capable of enhancing CD8 T cell responses. Many studies in animal models have clearly demonstrated better results when both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells participate in anti-tumor responses (see e.g., Nishimura et al. (1999) Distinct role of antigen-specific T helper type 1 (TH1) and Th2 cells in tumor eradication in vivo. J Ex Med 190:617-27). Universal CD4+ T cell epitopes have been identified that are applicable to developing therapies against different types of cancer (see e.g., Kobayashi et al. (2008) Current Opinion in Immunology 20:221-27). For example, an HLA-DR restricted helper peptide from tetanus toxoid was used in melanoma vaccines to activate CD4+ T cells non-specifically (see e.g., Slingluff et al. (2007) Immunologic and Clinical Outcomes of a Randomized Phase II Trial of Two Multipeptide Vaccines for Melanoma in the Adjuvant Setting, Clinical Cancer Research 13(21):6386-95). It is contemplated within the scope of the invention that such CD4+ cells may be applicable at three levels that vary in their tumor specificity: 1) a broad level in which universal CD4+ epitopes (e.g., tetanus toxoid) may be used to augment CD8+ cells; 2) an intermediate level in which native, tumor-associated CD4+ epitopes may be used to augment CD8+ cells; and 3) a patient specific level in which neoantigen CD4+ epitopes may be used to augment CD8+ cells in a patient specific manner.

CD8+ cell immunity may also be generated with neoantigen loaded dendritic cell (DC) vaccine. DCs are potent antigen-presenting cells that initiate T cell immunity and can be used as cancer vaccines when loaded with one or more peptides of interest, for example, by direct peptide injection. For example, patients that were newly diagnosed with metastatic melanoma were shown to be immunized against 3 HLA-A*020l-restricted gp100 melanoma antigen-derived peptides with autologous peptide pulsed CD40L/IFN-g-activated mature DCs via an IL-12p70-producing patient DC vaccine (see e.g., Carreno et al (2013) L-12p70-producing patient DC vaccine elicits Tca-polarized immunity, Journal of Clinical Investigation, 123(8):3383-94 and Ali et al. (2009) In situ regulation of DC subsets and T cells mediates tumor regression in mice, Cancer Immunotherapy, 1(8):1-10). It is contemplated within the scope of the invention that neoantigen loaded DCs may be prepared using the synthetic TLR 3 agonist Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid-poly-L-lysine Carboxymethylcellulose (Poly-ICLC) to stimulate the DCs. Poly-ICLC is a potent individual maturation stimulus for human DCs as assessed by an upregulation of CD83 and CD86, induction of interleukin-12 (IL-12), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), interleukin 1 (IL-1), and type I interferons (IFN), and minimal interleukin 10 (IL-10) production. DCs may be differentiated from frozen peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained by leukapheresis, while PBMCs may be isolated by Ficoll gradient centrifugation and frozen in aliquots.

Illustratively, the following 7 day activation protocol may be used. Day 1-PBMCs are thawed and plated onto tissue culture flasks to select for monocytes which adhere to the plastic surface after 1-2 hr incubation at 37° C. in the tissue culture incubator. After incubation, the lymphocytes are washed off and the adherent monocytes are cultured for 5 days in the presence of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to differentiate to immature DCs. On Day 6, immature DCs are pulsed with the keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) protein which serves as a control for the quality of the vaccine and may boost the immunogenicity of the vaccine. The DCs are stimulated to mature, loaded with peptide antigens, and incubated overnight. On Day 7, the cells are washed, and frozen in 1 ml aliquots containing 4-20×10(6) cells using a controlled-rate freezer. Lot release testing for the batches of DCs may be performed to meet minimum specifications before the DCs are injected into patients (see e.g., Sabado et al. (2013) Preparation of tumor antigen-loaded mature dendritic cells for immunotherapy, J. Vis Exp. August 1; (78). doi: 10.3791/50085).

A DC vaccine may be incorporated into a scaffold system to facilitate delivery to a patient. Therapeutic treatment of a patients neoplasia with a DC vaccine may utilize a biomaterial system that releases factors that recruit host dendritic cells into the device, differentiates the resident, immature DCs by locally presenting adjuvants (e.g., danger signals) while releasing antigen, and promotes the release of activated, antigen loaded DCs to the lymph nodes (or desired site of action) where the DCs may interact with T cells to generate a potent cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to the cancer neoantigens. Implantable biomaterials may be used to generate a potent cytotoxic T lymphocyte response against a neoplasia in a patient specific manner. The biomaterial-resident dendritic cells may then be activated by exposing them to danger signals mimicking infection, in concert with release of antigen from the biomaterial. The activated dendritic cells then migrate from the biomaterials to lymph nodes to induce a cytotoxic T effector response. This approach has previously been demonstrated to lead to regression of established melanoma in preclinical studies using a lysate prepared from tumor biopsies (see e.g., Ali et al. (2209) In situ regulation of DC subsets and T cells mediates tumor regression in mice, Cancer Immunotherapy 1(8):1-10; Ali et al. (2009) Infection-mimicking materials to program dendritic cells in situ. Nat Mater 8:151-8), and such a vaccine is currently being tested in a Phase I clinical trial recently initiated at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This approach has also been shown to lead to regression of glioblastoma, as well as the induction of a potent memory response to prevent relapse, using the C6 rat glioma model.24 in the current proposal. The ability of such an implantable, biomatrix vaccine delivery scaffold to amplify and sustain tumor specific dendritic cell activation may lead to more robust anti-tumor immunosensitization than can be achieved by traditional subcutaneous or intra-nodal vaccine administrations.

Preferably, the antigen presenting cells are dendritic cells. Suitably, the dendritic cells are autologous dendritic cells that are pulsed with the neoantigenic peptide. The peptide may be any suitable peptide that gives rise to an appropriate T-cell response. T-cell therapy using autologous dendritic cells pulsed with peptides from a tumor associated antigen is disclosed in Murphy et al. (1996) The Prostate 29, 371-380 and Tjua et al. (1997) The Prostate 32, 272-278.

Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention the vaccine or immunogenic composition containing at least one antigen presenting cell is pulsed or loaded with one or more peptides of the present invention. Alternatively, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from a patient may be loaded with peptides ex vivo and injected back into the patient. As an alternative the antigen presenting cell comprises an expression construct encoding a peptide of the present invention. The polynucleotide may be any suitable polynucleotide and it is preferred that it is capable of transducing the dendritic cell, thus resulting in the presentation of a peptide and induction of immunity.

The inventive pharmaceutical composition may be compiled so that the selection, number and/or amount of peptides present in the composition is/are tissue, cancer, and/or patient-specific. For instance, the exact selection of peptides can be guided by expression patterns of the parent proteins in a given tissue to avoid side effects. The selection may be dependent on the specific type of cancer, the status of the disease, earlier treatment regimens, the immune status of the patient, and, of course, the HLA-haplotype of the patient. Furthermore, the vaccine or immunogenic composition according to the invention can contain individualized components, according to personal needs of the particular patient. Examples include varying the amounts of peptides according to the expression of the related neoantigen in the particular patient, unwanted side-effects due to personal allergies or other treatments, and adjustments for secondary treatments following a first round or scheme of treatment.

Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptide of the invention may be administered to an individual already suffering from cancer. In therapeutic applications, compositions are administered to a patient in an amount sufficient to elicit an effective CTL response to the tumor antigen and to cure or at least partially arrest symptoms and/or complications. An amount adequate to accomplish this is defined as “therapeutically effective dose.” Amounts effective for this use can depend on, e.g., the peptide composition, the manner of administration, the stage and severity of the disease being treated, the weight and general state of health of the patient, and the judgment of the prescribing physician, but generally range for the initial immunization (that is for therapeutic or prophylactic administration) from about 1.0 μg to about 50,000 μg of peptide for a 70 kg patient, followed by boosting dosages or from about 1.0 μg to about 10,000 μg of peptide pursuant to a boosting regimen over weeks to months depending upon the patient's response and condition and possibly by measuring specific CTL activity in the patient's blood. It should be kept in mind that the peptide and compositions of the present invention may generally be employed in serious disease states, that is, life-threatening or potentially life threatening situations, especially when the cancer has metastasized. For therapeutic use, administration should begin as soon as possible after the detection or surgical removal of tumors. This is followed by boosting doses until at least symptoms are substantially abated and for a period thereafter.

The pharmaceutical compositions (e.g., vaccine compositions) for therapeutic treatment are intended for parenteral, topical, nasal, oral or local administration. Preferably, the pharmaceutical compositions are administered parenterally, e.g., intravenously, subcutaneously, intradermally, or intramuscularly. The compositions may be administered at the site of surgical excision to induce a local immune response to the tumor. The invention provides compositions for parenteral administration which comprise a solution of the peptides and vaccine or immunogenic compositions are dissolved or suspended in an acceptable carrier, preferably an aqueous carrier. A variety of aqueous carriers may be used, e.g., water, buffered water, 0.9% saline, 0.3% glycine, hyaluronic acid and the like. These compositions may be sterilized by conventional, well known sterilization techniques, or may be sterile filtered. The resulting aqueous solutions may be packaged for use as is, or lyophilized, the lyophilized preparation being combined with a sterile solution prior to administration. The compositions may contain pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances as required to approximate physiological conditions, such as pH adjusting and buffering agents, tonicity adjusting agents, wetting agents and the like, for example, sodium acetate, sodium lactate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, sorbitan monolaurate, triethanolamine oleate, etc.

A liposome suspension containing a peptide may be administered intravenously, locally, topically, etc. in a dose which varies according to, inter alia, the manner of administration, the peptide being delivered, and the stage of the disease being treated. For targeting to the immune cells, a ligand, such as, e.g., antibodies or fragments thereof specific for cell surface determinants of the desired immune system cells, can be incorporated into the liposome.

For solid compositions, conventional or nanoparticle nontoxic solid carriers may be used which include, for example, pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharin, talcum, cellulose, glucose, sucrose, magnesium carbonate, and the like. For oral administration, a pharmaceutically acceptable nontoxic composition is formed by incorporating any of the normally employed excipients, such as those carriers previously listed, and generally 10-95% of active ingredient, that is, one or more peptides of the invention, and more preferably at a concentration of 25%-75%.

For aerosol administration, the immunogenic peptides are preferably supplied in finely divided form along with a surfactant and propellant. Typical percentages of peptides are 0.01%-20% by weight, preferably 1%-10%. The surfactant can, of course, be nontoxic, and preferably soluble in the propellant. Representative of such agents are the esters or partial esters of fatty acids containing from 6 to 22 carbon atoms, such as caproic, octanoic, lauric, palmitic, stearic, linoleic, linolenic, olesteric and oleic acids with an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol or its cyclic anhydride. Mixed esters, such as mixed or natural glycerides may be employed. The surfactant may constitute 0.1%-20% by weight of the composition, preferably 0.25-5%. The balance of the composition is ordinarily propellant. A carrier can also be included as desired, as with, e.g., lecithin for intranasal delivery.

The peptides and polypeptides of the invention can be readily synthesized chemically utilizing reagents that are free of contaminating bacterial or animal substances (Merrifield R B: Solid phase peptide synthesis. I. The synthesis of a tetrapeptide. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149-54, 1963).

The peptides and polypeptides of the invention can also be expressed by a vector, e.g., a nucleic acid molecule as herein-discussed, e.g., RNA or a DNA plasmid, a viral vector such as a poxvirus, e.g., orthopox virus, avipox virus, or adenovirus, AAV or lentivirus. This approach involves the use of a vector to express nucleotide sequences that encode the peptide of the invention. Upon introduction into an acutely or chronically infected host or into a noninfected host, the vector expresses the immunogenic peptide, and thereby elicits a host CTL response.

For therapeutic or immunization purposes, nucleic acids encoding the peptide of the invention and optionally one or more of the peptides described herein can also be administered to the patient. A number of methods are conveniently used to deliver the nucleic acids to the patient. For instance, the nucleic acid can be delivered directly, as “naked DNA”. This approach is described, for instance, in Wolff et al., Science 247: 1465-1468 (1990) as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,580,859 and 5,589,466. The nucleic acids can also be administered using ballistic delivery as described, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,253. Particles comprised solely of DNA can be administered. Alternatively, DNA can be adhered to particles, such as gold particles. Generally, a plasmid for a vaccine or immunological composition can comprise DNA encoding an antigen (e.g., one or more neoantigens) operatively linked to regulatory sequences which control expression or expression and secretion of the antigen from a host cell, e.g., a mammalian cell; for instance, from upstream to downstream, DNA for a promoter, such as a mammalian virus promoter (e.g., a CMV promoter such as an hCMV or mCMV promoter, e.g., an early-intermediate promoter, or an SV40 promoter—see documents cited or incorporated herein for useful promoters), DNA for a eukaryotic leader peptide for secretion (e.g., tissue plasminogen activator), DNA for the neoantigen(s), and DNA encoding a terminator (e.g., the 3′ UTR transcriptional terminator from the gene encoding Bovine Growth Hormone or bGH polyA). A composition can contain more than one plasmid or vector, whereby each vector contains and expresses a different neoantigen. Mention is also made of Wasmoen U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,303, and Dale U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,104, whose text may be useful. DNA or DNA plasmid formulations can be formulated with or inside cationic lipids; and, as to cationic lipids, as well as adjuvants, mention is also made of Loosmore U.S. Patent Application 2003/0104008. Also, teachings in Audonnet U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,228,846 and 6,159,477 may be relied upon for DNA plasmid teachings that can be employed in constructing and using DNA plasmids that contain and express in vivo.

The nucleic acids can also be delivered complexed to cationic compounds, such as cationic lipids. Lipid-mediated gene delivery methods are described, for instance, in WO1996/18372; WO 1993/24640; Mannino & Gould-Fogerite, BioTechniques 6(7): 682-691 (1988); U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,833; WO 1991/06309; and Feigner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84: 7413-7414 (1987).

RNA encoding the peptide of interest (e.g., mRNA) can also be used for delivery (see, e.g., Kiken et al, 2011; Su et al, 2011; see also U.S. Pat. No. 8,278,036; Halabi et al. J Clin Oncol (2003) 21:1232-1237; Petsch et al, Nature Biotechnology 2012 Dec. 7; 30(12):1210-6).

As to adenovirus vectors useful in the practice of the invention, mention is made of U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,808. The adenovirus vector used can be selected from the group consisting of the Ad5, Ad35, Ad11, C6, and C7 vectors. The sequence of the Adenovirus 5 (“Ad5”) genome has been published. (Chroboczek, J., Bieber, F., and Jacrot, B. (1992) The Sequence of the Genome of Adenovirus Type 5 and Its Comparison with the Genome of Adenovirus Type 2, Virology 186, 280-285; the contents if which is hereby incorporated by reference). Ad35 vectors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,974,695, 6,913,922, and 6,869,794. Ad11 vectors are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,922. C6 adenovirus vectors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,780,407; 6,537,594; 6,309,647; 6,265,189; 6,156,567; 6,090,393; 5,942,235 and 5,833,975. C7 vectors are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,558. Adenovirus vectors that are E1-defective or deleted, E3-defective or deleted, and/or E4-defective or deleted may also be used. Certain adenoviruses having mutations in the E1 region have improved safety margin because E1-defective adenovirus mutants are replication-defective in non-permissive cells, or, at the very least, are highly attenuated. Adenoviruses having mutations in the E3 region may have enhanced the immunogenicity by disrupting the mechanism whereby adenovirus down-regulates MHC class I molecules. Adenoviruses having E4 mutations may have reduced immunogenicity of the adenovirus vector because of suppression of late gene expression. Such vectors may be particularly useful when repeated re-vaccination utilizing the same vector is desired. Adenovirus vectors that are deleted or mutated in E1, E3, E4, E1 and E3, and E1 and E4 can be used in accordance with the present invention. Furthermore, “gutless” adenovirus vectors, in which all viral genes are deleted, can also be used in accordance with the present invention. Such vectors require a helper virus for their replication and require a special human 293 cell line expressing both E1a and Cre, a condition that does not exist in natural environment. Such “gutless” vectors are non-immunogenic and thus the vectors may be inoculated multiple times for re-vaccination. The “gutless” adenovirus vectors can be used for insertion of heterologous inserts/genes such as the transgenes of the present invention, and can even be used for co-delivery of a large number of heterologous inserts/genes.

As to lentivirus vector systems useful in the practice of the invention, mention is made of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,428,953, 6,165,782, 6,013,516, 5,994,136, 6,312,682, and 7,198,784, and documents cited therein.

With regard to AAV vectors useful in the practice of the invention, mention is made of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,658,785, 7,115,391, 7,172,893, 6,953,690, 6,936,466, 6,924,128, 6,893,865, 6,793,926, 6,537,540, 6,475,769 and 6,258,595, and documents cited therein.

Another vector is BCG (Bacille Calmette Guerin). BCG vectors are described in Stover et al. (Nature 351:456-460 (1991)). A wide variety of other vectors useful for therapeutic administration or immunization of the peptides of the invention, e.g., Salmonella typhi vectors and the like, is apparent to those skilled in the art from the description herein.

Vectors can be administered so as to have in vivo expression and response akin to doses and/or responses elicited by antigen administration

A preferred means of administering nucleic acids encoding the peptide of the invention uses minigene constructs encoding multiple epitopes. To create a DNA sequence encoding the selected CTL epitopes (minigene) for expression in human cells, the amino acid sequences of the epitopes are reverse translated. A human codon usage table is used to guide the codon choice for each amino acid. These epitope-encoding DNA sequences are directly adjoined, creating a continuous polypeptide sequence. To optimize expression and/or immunogenicity, additional elements can be incorporated into the minigene design. Examples of amino acid sequence that could be reverse translated and included in the minigene sequence include: helper T lymphocyte, epitopes, a leader (signal) sequence, and an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal. In addition, MHC presentation of CTL epitopes may be improved by including synthetic (e.g. poly-alanine) or naturally-occurring flanking sequences adjacent to the CTL epitopes.

The minigene sequence is converted to DNA by assembling oligonucleotides that encode the plus and minus strands of the minigene. Overlapping oligonucleotides (30-100 bases long) are synthesized, phosphorylated, purified and annealed under appropriate conditions using well known techniques. The ends of the oligonucleotides are joined using T4 DNA ligase. This synthetic minigene, encoding the CTL epitope polypeptide, can then cloned into a desired expression vector.

Standard regulatory sequences well known to those of skill in the art are included in the vector to ensure expression in the target cells. Several vector elements are required: a promoter with a down-stream cloning site for minigene insertion; a polyadenylation signal for efficient transcription termination; an E. coli origin of replication; and an E. coli selectable marker (e.g. ampicillin or kanamycin resistance). Numerous promoters can be used for this purpose, e.g., the human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) promoter. See, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,580,859 and 5,589,466 for other suitable promoter sequences.

Additional vector modifications may be desired to optimize minigene expression and immunogenicity. In some cases, introns are required for efficient gene expression, and one or more synthetic or naturally-occurring introns could be incorporated into the transcribed region of the minigene. The inclusion of mRNA stabilization sequences can also be considered for increasing minigene expression. It has recently been proposed that immuno stimulatory sequences (ISSs or CpGs) play a role in the immunogenicity of DNA’ vaccines. These sequences could be included in the vector, outside the minigene coding sequence, if found to enhance immunogenicity.

In some embodiments, a bicistronic expression vector, to allow production of the minigene-encoded epitopes and a second protein included to enhance or decrease immunogenicity can be used. Examples of proteins or polypeptides that could beneficially enhance the immune response if co-expressed include cytokines (e.g., IL2, IL12, GM-CSF), cytokine-inducing molecules (e.g. LeIF) or costimulatory molecules. Helper (HTL) epitopes could be joined to intracellular targeting signals and expressed separately from the CTL epitopes. This would allow direction of the HTL epitopes to a cell compartment different than the CTL epitopes. If required, this could facilitate more efficient entry of HTL epitopes into the MHC class II pathway, thereby improving CTL induction. In contrast to CTL induction, specifically decreasing the immune response by co-expression of immunosuppressive molecules (e.g. TGF-β) may be beneficial in certain diseases.

Once an expression vector is selected, the minigene is cloned into the polylinker region downstream of the promoter. This plasmid is transformed into an appropriate E. coli strain, and DNA is prepared using standard techniques. The orientation and DNA sequence of the minigene, as well as all other elements included in the vector, are confirmed using restriction mapping and DNA sequence analysis. Bacterial cells harboring the correct plasmid can be stored as a master cell bank and a working cell bank.

Purified plasmid DNA can be prepared for injection using a variety of formulations. The simplest of these is reconstitution of lyophilized DNA in sterile phosphate-buffer saline (PBS). A variety of methods have been described, and new techniques may become available. As noted herein, nucleic acids are conveniently formulated with cationic lipids. In addition, glycolipids, fusogenic liposomes, peptides and compounds referred to collectively as protective, interactive, non-condensing (PINC) could also be complexed to purified plasmid DNA to influence variables such as stability, intramuscular dispersion, or trafficking to specific organs or cell types.

Target cell sensitization can be used as a functional assay for expression and MHC class I presentation of minigene-encoded CTL epitopes. The plasmid DNA is introduced into a mammalian cell line that is suitable as a target for standard CTL chromium release assays. The transfection method used is dependent on the final formulation. Electroporation can be used for “naked” DNA, whereas cationic lipids allow direct in vitro transfection. A plasmid expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) can be co-transfected to allow enrichment of transfected cells using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). These cells are then chromium-51 labeled and used as target cells for epitope-specific CTL lines. Cytolysis, detected by 51 Cr release, indicates production of MHC presentation of mini gene-encoded CTL epitopes.

In vivo immunogenicity is a second approach for functional testing of minigene DNA formulations. Transgenic mice expressing appropriate human MHC molecules are immunized with the DNA product. The dose and route of administration are formulation dependent (e.g. IM for DNA in PBS, IP for lipid-complexed DNA). Twenty-one days after immunization, splenocytes are harvested and restimulated for 1 week in the presence of peptides encoding each epitope being tested. These effector cells (CTLs) are assayed for cytolysis of peptide-loaded, chromium-51 labeled target cells using standard techniques. Lysis of target cells sensitized by MHC loading of peptides corresponding to minigene-encoded epitopes demonstrates DNA vaccine function for in vivo induction of CTLs.

Peptides may be used to elicit CTL ex vivo, as well. The resulting CTL, can be used to treat chronic tumors in patients in need thereof that do not respond to other conventional forms of therapy, or does not respond to a peptide vaccine approach of therapy. Ex vivo CTL responses to a particular tumor antigen are induced by incubating in tissue culture the patient's CTL precursor cells (CTLp) together with a source of antigen-presenting cells (APC) and the appropriate peptide. After an appropriate incubation time (typically 1-4 weeks), in which the CTLp are activated and mature and expand into effector CTL, the cells are infused back into the patient, where they destroy their specific target cell (i.e., a tumor cell). In order to optimize the in vitro conditions for the generation of specific cytotoxic T cells, the culture of stimulator cells are maintained in an appropriate serum-free medium.

Prior to incubation of the stimulator cells with the cells to be activated, e.g., precursor CD8+ cells, an amount of antigenic peptide is added to the stimulator cell culture, of sufficient quantity to become loaded onto the human Class I molecules to be expressed on the surface of the stimulator cells. In the present invention, a sufficient amount of peptide is an amount that allows about 200, and preferably 200 or more, human Class I MHC molecules loaded with peptide to be expressed on the surface of each stimulator cell. Preferably, the stimulator cells are incubated with >2 μg/ml peptide. For example, the stimulator cells are incubates with >3, 4, 5, 10, 15, or more μg/ml peptide.

Resting or precursor CD8+ cells are then incubated in culture with the appropriate stimulator cells for a time period sufficient to activate the CD8+ cells. Preferably, the CD8+ cells are activated in an antigen-specific manner. The ratio of resting or precursor CD8+ (effector) cells to stimulator cells may vary from individual to individual and may further depend upon variables such as the amenability of an individual's lymphocytes to culturing conditions and the nature and severity of the disease condition or other condition for which the within-described treatment modality is used. Preferably, however, the lymphocyte:stimulator cell ratio is in the range of about 30:1 to 300:1. The effector/stimulator culture may be maintained for as long a time as is necessary to stimulate a therapeutically useable or effective number of CD8+ cells.

The induction of CTL in vitro requires the specific recognition of peptides that are bound to allele specific MHC class I molecules on APC. The number of specific MHC/peptide complexes per APC is crucial for the stimulation of CTL, particularly in primary immune responses. While small amounts of peptide/MHC complexes per cell are sufficient to render a cell susceptible to lysis by CTL, or to stimulate a secondary CTL response, the successful activation of a CTL precursor (pCTL) during primary response requires a significantly higher number of MHC/peptide complexes. Peptide loading of empty major histocompatability complex molecules on cells allows the induction of primary cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses.

Since mutant cell lines do not exist for every human MHC allele, it is advantageous to use a technique to remove endogenous MHC-associated peptides from the surface of APC, followed by loading the resulting empty MHC molecules with the immunogenic peptides of interest. The use of non-transformed (non-tumorigenic), noninfected cells, and preferably, autologous cells of patients as APC is desirable for the design of CTL induction protocols directed towards development of ex vivo CTL therapies. This application discloses methods for stripping the endogenous MHC-associated peptides from the surface of APC followed by the loading of desired peptides.

A stable MHC class I molecule is a trimeric complex formed of the following elements: 1) a peptide usually of 8-10 residues, 2) a transmembrane heavy polymorphic protein chain which bears the peptide-binding site in its a1 and a2 domains, and 3) a non-covalently associated non-polymorphic light chain, p2microglobuiin. Removing the bound peptides and/or dissociating the p2microglobulin from the complex renders the MHC class I molecules nonfunctional and unstable, resulting in rapid degradation. All MHC class I molecules isolated from PBMCs have endogenous peptides bound to them. Therefore, the first step is to remove all endogenous peptides bound to MHC class I molecules on the APC without causing their degradation before exogenous peptides can be added to them.

Two possible ways to free up MHC class I molecules of bound peptides include lowering the culture temperature from 37° C. to 26° C. overnight to destabilize p2microglobulin and stripping the endogenous peptides from the cell using a mild acid treatment. The methods release previously bound peptides into the extracellular environment allowing new exogenous peptides to bind to the empty class I molecules. The cold-temperature incubation method enables exogenous peptides to bind efficiently to the MHC complex, but requires an overnight incubation at 26° C. which may slow the cell's metabolic rate. It is also likely that cells not actively synthesizing MHC molecules (e.g., resting PBMC) would not produce high amounts of empty surface MHC molecules by the cold temperature procedure.

Harsh acid stripping involves extraction of the peptides with trifluoroacetic acid, pH 2, or acid denaturation of the immunoaffinity purified class I-peptide complexes. These methods are not feasible for CTL induction, since it is important to remove the endogenous peptides while preserving APC viability and an optimal metabolic state which is critical for antigen presentation. Mild acid solutions of pH 3 such as glycine or citrate-phosphate buffers have been used to identify endogenous peptides and to identify tumor associated T cell epitopes. The treatment is especially effective, in that only the MHC class I molecules are destabilized (and associated peptides released), while other surface antigens remain intact, including MHC class II molecules. Most importantly, treatment of cells with the mild acid solutions do not affect the cell's viability or metabolic state. The mild acid treatment is rapid since the stripping of the endogenous peptides occurs in two minutes at 4° C. and the APC is ready to perform its function after the appropriate peptides are loaded. The technique is utilized herein to make peptide-specific APCs for the generation of primary antigen-specific CTL. The resulting APC are efficient in inducing peptide-specific CD8+ CTL.

Activated CD8+ cells may be effectively separated from the stimulator cells using one of a variety of known methods. For example, monoclonal antibodies specific for the stimulator cells, for the peptides loaded onto the stimulator cells, or for the CD8+ cells (or a segment thereof) may be utilized to bind their appropriate complementary ligand. Antibody-tagged molecules may then be extracted from the stimulator-effector cell admixture via appropriate means, e.g., via well-known immunoprecipitation or immunoassay methods.

Effective, cytotoxic amounts of the activated CD8+ cells can vary between in vitro and in vivo uses, as well as with the amount and type of cells that are the ultimate target of these killer cells. The amount can also vary depending on the condition of the patient and should be determined via consideration of all appropriate factors by the practitioner. Preferably, however, about 1×10⁶ to about 1×10¹², more preferably about 1×10⁸ to about 1×10¹¹, and even more preferably, about 1×10⁹ to about 1×10¹⁰ activated CD8+ cells are utilized for adult humans, compared to about 5×10⁶-5×10⁷ cells used in mice.

Preferably, as discussed herein, the activated CD8+ cells are harvested from the cell culture prior to administration of the CD8+ cells to the individual being treated. It is important to note, however, that unlike other present and proposed treatment modalities, the present method uses a cell culture system that is not tumorigenic. Therefore, if complete separation of stimulator cells and activated CD8+ cells are not achieved, there is no inherent danger known to be associated with the administration of a small number of stimulator cells, whereas administration of mammalian tumor-promoting cells may be extremely hazardous.

Methods of re-introducing cellular components are known in the art and include procedures such as those exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,893 to Honsik, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,915 to Rosenberg. For example, administration of activated CD8+ cells via intravenous infusion is appropriate.

The practice of the present invention employs, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques of molecular biology (including recombinant techniques), microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry and immunology, which are well within the purview of the skilled artisan. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature, such as, “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual”, second edition (Sambrook, 1989); “Oligonucleotide Synthesis” (Gait, 1984); “Animal Cell Culture” (Freshney, 1987); “Methods in Enzymology” “Handbook of Experimental Immunology” (Wei, 1996); “Gene Transfer Vectors for Mammalian Cells” (Miller and Calos, 1987); “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology” (Ausubel, 1987); “PCR: The Polymerase Chain Reaction”, (Mullis, 1994); “Current Protocols in Immunology” (Coligan, 1991). These techniques are applicable to the production of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention, and, as such, may be considered in making and practicing the invention. Particularly useful techniques for particular embodiments are discussed in the sections that follow.

Therapeutic Methods

The present invention provides methods of inducing a neoplasia/tumor specific immune response in a subject, vaccinating against a neoplasia/tumor, treating and or alleviating a symptom of cancer in a subject by administering the subject a neoplasia vaccine or a neoantigenic peptide or composition of the invention and at least one checkpoint inhibitor.

In particular, the present invention is directed to methods of treating or preventing a neoplasia comprising the steps of administering to a subject (a) a neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition, and (b) at least one checkpoint inhibitor.

According to the invention, the herein-described neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition may be used for a patient that has been diagnosed as having cancer, or at risk of developing cancer.

The described combination of the invention is administered in an amount sufficient to induce a CTL response.

Additional Therapies

The tumor specific neoantigen peptides and pharmaceutical compositions described herein can also be administered in further combination with another agent, for example a therapeutic agent. In certain embodiments, the additional agents can be, but are not limited to, chemotherapeutic agents, anti-angiogenesis agents and agents that reduce immune-suppression.

The neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and one or more checkpoint inhibitors can be administered before, during, or after administration of the additional agent. In embodiments, the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and/or one or more checkpoint inhibitors are administered before the first administration of the additional agent. In other embodiments, the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and/or one or more checkpoint inhibitors are administered after the first administration of the additional therapeutic agent (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 days or more). In embodiments, the neoplasia vaccine or immunogenic composition and one or more checkpoint inhibitors are administered simultaneously with the first administration of the additional therapeutic agent.

The therapeutic agent is for example, a chemotherapeutic or biotherapeutic agent, radiation, or immunotherapy. Any suitable therapeutic treatment for a particular cancer may be administered. Examples of chemotherapeutic and biotherapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, an angiogenesis inhibitor, such ashydroxy angiostatin K1-3, DL-α-Difluoromethyl-ornithine, endostatin, fumagillin, genistein, minocycline, staurosporine, and thalidomide; a DNA intercaltor/cross-linker, such as Bleomycin, Carboplatin, Carmustine, Chlorambucil, Cyclophosphamide, cis-Diammineplatinum(I) dichloride (Cisplatin), Melphalan, Mitoxantrone, and Oxaliplatin; a DNA synthesis inhibitor, such as (±)-Amethopterin (Methotrexate), 3-Amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine 1,4-dioxide, Aminopterin, Cytosine β-D-arabinofuranoside, 5-Fluoro-5′-deoxyuridine, 5-Fluorouracil, Ganciclovir, Hydroxyurea, and Mitomycin C; a DNA-RNA transcription regulator, such as Actinomycin D, Daunorubicin, Doxorubicin, Homoharringtonine, and Idarubicin; an enzyme inhibitor, such as S(+)-Camptothecin, Curcumin, (−)-Deguelin, 5,6-Dichlorobenzimidazole 1-β-D-ribofuranoside, Etoposide, Formestane, Fostriecin, Hispidin, 2-Imino-1-imidazoli-dineacetic acid (Cyclocreatine), Mevinolin, Trichostatin A, Tyrphostin AG 34, and Tyrphostin AG 879; a gene regulator, such as 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine, 5-Azacytidine, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3), 4-Hydroxytamoxifen, Melatonin, Mifepristone, Raloxifene, all trans-Retinal (Vitamin A aldehyde), Retinoic acid all trans (Vitamin A acid), 9-cis-Retinoic Acid, 13-cis-Retinoic acid, Retinol (Vitamin A), Tamoxifen, and Troglitazone; a microtubule inhibitor, such as Colchicine, docetaxel, Dolastatin 15, Nocodazole, Paclitaxel, Podophyllotoxin, Rhizoxin, Vinblastine, Vincristine, Vindesine, and Vinorelbine (Navelbine); and an unclassified therapeutic agent, such as 17-(Allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, 4-Amino-1,8-naphthalimide, Apigenin, Brefeldin A, Cimetidine, Dichloromethylene-diphosphonic acid, Leuprolide (Leuprorelin), Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone, Pifithrin-α, Rapamycin, Sex hormone-binding globulin, Thapsigargin, and Urinary trypsin inhibitor fragment (Bikunin). The therapeutic agent may be altretamine, amifostine, asparaginase, capecitabine, cladribine, cisapride, cytarabine, dacarbazine (DTIC), dactinomycin, dronabinol, epoetin alpha, filgrastim, fludarabine, gemcitabine, granisetron, ifosfamide, irinotecan, lansoprazole, levamisole, leucovorin, megestrol, mesna, metoclopramide, mitotane, omeprazole, ondansetron, pilocarpine, prochloroperazine, or topotecan hydrochloride. The therapeutic agent may be a monoclonal antibody such as rituximab (Rituxan®), alemtuzumab (Campath®), Bevacizumab (Avastin®), Cetuximab (Erbitux®), panitumumab (Vectibix®), and trastuzumab (Herceptin®), Vemurafenib (Zelboraf®) imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®), erlotinib (Tarceva®), gefitinib (Iressa®), Vismodegib (Erivedge™), 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan, 131I-tositumomab, ado-trastuzumab emtansine, lapatinib (Tykerb®), pertuzumab (Perjeta™), ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla™), regorafenib (Stivarga®), sunitinib (Sutent®), Denosumab (Xgeva®), sorafenib (Nexavar®), pazopanib (Votrient®), axitinib (Inlyta®), dasatinib (Sprycel®), nilotinib (Tasigna®), bosutinib (Bosulif®), ofatumumab (Arzerra®), obinutuzumab (Gazyva™), ibrutinib (Imbruvicam™), idelalisib (Zydelig®), crizotinib (Xalkori®), erlotinib (Tarceva®), afatinib dimaleate (Gilotrif®), ceritinib (LDK378/Zykadia), Tositumomab and 131I-tositumomab (Bexxar®), ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin®), brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris®), bortezomib (Velcade®), siltuximab (Sylvant™), trametinib (Mekinist®), dabrafenib (Tafinlar®), pembrolizumab (Keytruda®), carfilzomib (Kyprolis®), Ramucirumab (Cyramza™), Cabozantinib (Cometriq™), vandetanib (Caprelsa®), Optionally, the therapeutic agent is a neoantigen. The therapeutic agent may be a cytokine such as interferons (INFs), interleukins (ILs), or hematopoietic growth factors. The therapeutic agent may be INF-α, IL-2, Aldesleukin, IL-2, Erythropoietin, Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The therapeutic agent may be a targeted therapy such as toremifene (Fareston®), fulvestrant (Faslodex®), anastrozole (Arimidex®), exemestane (Aromasin®), letrozole (Femara®), ziv-aflibercept (Zaltrap®), Alitretinoin (Panretin®), temsirolimus (Torisel®), Tretinoin (Vesanoid®), denileukin diftitox (Ontak®), vorinostat (Zolinza®), romidepsin (Istodax®), bexarotene (Targretin®), pralatrexate (Folotyn®), lenaliomide (Revlimid®), belinostat (Beleodaq™), lenaliomide (Revlimid®), pomalidomide (Pomalyst®), Cabazitaxel (Jevtana®), enzalutamide (Xtandi®), abiraterone acetate (Zytiga®), radium 223 chloride (Xofigo®), or everolimus (Afinitor®). Additionally, the therapeutic agent may be an epigenetic targeted drug such as HDAC inhibitors, kinase inhibitors, DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, histone demethylase inhibitors, or histone methylation inhibitors. The epigenetic drugs may be Azacitidine (Vidaza), Decitabine (Dacogen), Vorinostat (Zolinza), Romidepsin (Istodax), or Ruxolitinib (Jakafi). For prostate cancer treatment, a preferred chemotherapeutic agent with which anti-CTLA-4 can be combined is paclitaxel (TAXOL).

In certain embodiments, the one or more additional agents are one or more anti-glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor family receptor (GITR) agonistic antibodies. GITR is a costimulatory molecule for T lymphocytes, modulates innate and adaptive immune system and has been found to participate in a variety of immune responses and inflammatory processes. GITR was originally described by Nocentini et al. after being cloned from dexamethasone-treated murine T cell hybridomas (Nocentini et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94:6216-6221.1997). Unlike CD28 and CTLA-4, GITR has a very low basal expression on naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Ronchetti et al. Eur J Immunol 34:613-622. 2004). The observation that GITR stimulation has immunostimulatory effects in vitro and induced autoimmunity in vivo prompted the investigation of the antitumor potency of triggering this pathway. A review of Modulation Of Ctla 4 And Gitr For Cancer Immunotherapy can be found in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy (Avogadri et al. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology 344. 2011). Other agents that can contribute to relief of immune suppression include checkpoint inhibitors targeted at another member of the CD28/CTLA4 Ig superfamily such as BTLA, LAG3, ICOS, PDL1 or KIR (Page et a, Annual Review of Medicine 65:27 (2014)). In further additional embodiments, the checkpoint inhibitor is targeted at a member of the TNFR superfamily such as CD40, OX40, CD137, GITR, CD27 or TIM-3. In some cases targeting a checkpoint inhibitor is accomplished with an inhibitory antibody or similar molecule. In other cases, it is accomplished with an agonist for the target; examples of this class include the stimulatory targets OX40 and GITR.

In certain embodiments, the one or more additional agents are synergistic in that they increase immunogenicity after treatment. In one embodiment the additional agent allows for lower toxicity and/or lower discomfort due to lower doses of the additional therapeutic agents or any components of the combination therapy described herein. In another embodiment the additional agent results in longer lifespan due to increased effectiveness of the combination therapy described herein. Chemotherapeutic treatments that enhance the immunological response in a patient have been reviewed (Zitvogel et al., Immunological aspects of cancer chemotherapy. Nat Rev Immunol. 2008 January; 8(1):59-73). Additionally, chemotherapeutic agents can be administered safely with immunotherapy without inhibiting vaccine specific T-cell responses (Perez et al., A new era in anticancer peptide vaccines. Cancer May 2010). In one embodiment the additional agent is administered to increase the efficacy of the combination therapy described herein. In one embodiment the additional agent is a chemotherapy treatment. In one embodiment low doses of chemotherapy potentiate delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses. In one embodiment the chemotherapy agent targets regulatory T-cells. In one embodiment cyclophosphamide is the therapeutic agent. In one embodiment cyclophosphamide is administered prior to vaccination. In one embodiment cyclophosphamide is administered as a single dose before vaccination (Walter et al., Multipeptide immune response to cancer vaccine IMA901 after single-dose cyclophosphamide associates with longer patient survival. Nature Medicine; 18:8 2012). In another embodiment, cyclophosphamide is administered according to a metronomic program, where a daily dose is administered for one month (Ghiringhelli et al., Metronomic cyclophosphamide regimen selectively depletes CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and restores T and NK effector functions in end stage cancer patients. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2007 56:641-648). In another embodiment taxanes are administered before vaccination to enhance T-cell and NK-cell functions (Zitvogel et al., 2008). In another embodiment a low dose of a chemotherapeutic agent is administered with the combination therapy described herein. In one embodiment the chemotherapeutic agent is estramustine. In one embodiment the cancer is hormone resistant prostate cancer. A ≥50% decrease in serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) was seen in 8.7% of advanced hormone refractory prostate cancer patients by personalized vaccination alone, whereas such a decrease was seen in 54% of patients when the personalized vaccination was combined with a low dose of estramustine (Itoh et al., Personalized peptide vaccines: A new therapeutic modality for cancer. Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 970-976). In another embodiment glucocorticoids are not administered with or before the combination therapy described herein (Zitvogel et al., 2008). In another embodiment glucocorticoids are administered after the combination therapy described herein. In another embodiment Gemcitabine is administered before, simultaneously, or after the combination therapy described herein to enhance the frequency of tumor specific CTL precursors (Zitvogel et al., 2008). In another embodiment 5-fluorouracil is administered with the combination therapy described herein as synergistic effects were seen with a peptide based vaccine (Zitvogel et al., 2008). In another embodiment an inhibitor of Braf, such as Vemurafenib, is used as an additional agent. Braf inhibition has been shown to be associated with an increase in melanoma antigen expression and T-cell infiltrate and a decrease in immunosuppressive cytokines in tumors of treated patients (Frederick et al., BRAF inhibition is associated with enhanced melanoma antigen expression and a more favorable tumor microenvironment in patients with metastatic melanoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2013; 19:1225-1231). In another embodiment an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases is used as an additional agent. In one embodiment the tyrosine kinase inhibitor is used before vaccination with the combination therapy described herein. In one embodiment the tyrosine kinase inhibitor is used simultaneously with the combination therapy described herein. In another embodiment the tyrosine kinase inhibitor is used to create a more immune permissive environment. In another embodiment the tyrosine kinase inhibitor is sunitinib or imatinib mesylate. It has previously been shown that favorable outcomes could be achieved with sequential administration of continuous daily dosing of sunitinib and recombinant vaccine (Farsaci et al., Consequence of dose scheduling of sunitinib on host immune response elements and vaccine combination therapy. Int J Cancer; 130: 1948-1959). Sunitinib has also been shown to reverse type-1 immune suppression using a daily dose of 50 mg/day (Finke et al., Sunitinib Reverses Type-1 Immune Suppression and Decreases T-Regulatory Cells in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients. Clin Cancer Res 2008; 14(20)). In another embodiment targeted therapies are administered in combination with the combination therapy described herein. Doses of targeted therapies has been described previously (Alvarez, Present and future evolution of advanced breast cancer therapy. Breast Cancer Research 2010, 12(Suppl 2):S1). In another embodiment temozolomide is administered with the combination therapy described herein. In one embodiment temozolomide is administered at 200 mg/day for 5 days every fourth week of a combination therapy with the combination therapy described herein. Results of a similar strategy have been shown to have low toxicity (Kyte et al., Telomerase Peptide Vaccination Combined with Temozolomide: A Clinical Trial in Stage IV Melanoma Patients. Clin Cancer Res; 17(13) 2011). In another embodiment the combination therapy is administered with an additional therapeutic agent that results in lymphopenia. In one embodiment the additional agent is temozolomide. An immune response can still be induced under these conditions (Sampson et al., Greater chemotherapy-induced lymphopenia enhances tumor-specific immune responses that eliminate EGFRvIII-expressing tumor cells in patients with glioblastoma. Neuro-Oncology 13(3):324-333, 2011).

The herein-described compositions and methods may be used on patients in need thereof with any cancer according to the general flow process shown in FIG. 2. Patients in need thereof may receive a series of priming vaccinations with a mixture of personalized tumor-specific peptides. Additionally, over a 4 week period the priming may be followed by two boosts during a maintenance phase. All vaccinations are subcutaneously delivered. The vaccine or immunogenic composition is evaluated for safety, tolerability, immune response and clinical effect in patients and for feasibility of producing vaccine or immunogenic composition and successfully initiating vaccination within an appropriate time frame. The first cohort can consist of 5 patients, and after safety is adequately demonstrated, an additional cohort of 10 patients may be enrolled. Peripheral blood is extensively monitored for peptide-specific T-cell responses and patients are followed for up to two years to assess disease recurrence.

Administering Combination Therapy Consistent with Standard of Care

In another aspect, the combination therapy described herein provides selecting the appropriate point to administer the combination therapy in relation to and within the standard of care for the cancer being treated for a patient in need thereof. The studies described herein show that the combination therapy can be effectively administered even within the standard of care that includes surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. The standards of care for the most common cancers can be found on the website of National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics). The standard of care is the current treatment that is accepted by medical experts as a proper treatment for a certain type of disease and that is widely used by healthcare professionals. Standard or care is also called best practice, standard medical care, and standard therapy. Standards of Care for cancer generally include surgery, lymph node removal, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, antibodies targeting the tumor, and immunotherapy. Immunotherapy can include checkpoint blockers (CBP), chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), and adoptive T-cell therapy. The combination therapy described herein can be incorporated within the standard of care. The combination therapy described herein may also be administered where the standard of care has changed due to advances in medicine.

Incorporation of the combination therapy described herein may depend on a treatment step in the standard of care that can lead to activation of the immune system. Treatment steps that can activate and function synergistically with the combination therapy have been described herein. The therapy can be advantageously administered simultaneously or after a treatment that activates the immune system.

Incorporation of the combination therapy described herein may depend on a treatment step in the standard of care that causes the immune system to be suppressed. Such treatment steps may include irradiation, high doses of alkylating agents and/or methotrexate, steroids such as glucosteroids, surgery, such as to remove the lymph nodes, imatinib mesylate, high doses of TNF, and taxanes (Zitvogel et al., 2008). The combination therapy may be administered before such steps or may be administered after.

In one embodiment the combination therapy may be administered after bone marrow transplants and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Bone marrow transplantation and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation are procedures that restore stem cells that were destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. After being treated with high-dose anticancer drugs and/or radiation, the patient receives harvested stem cells, which travel to the bone marrow and begin to produce new blood cells. A “mini-transplant” uses lower, less toxic doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation to prepare the patient for transplant. A “tandem transplant” involves two sequential courses of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. In autologous transplants, patients receive their own stem cells. In syngeneic transplants, patients receive stem cells from their identical twin. In allogeneic transplants, patients receive stem cells from their brother, sister, or parent. A person who is not related to the patient (an unrelated donor) also may be used. In some types of leukemia, the graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect that occurs after allogeneic BMT and PBSCT is crucial to the effectiveness of the treatment. GVT occurs when white blood cells from the donor (the graft) identify the cancer cells that remain in the patient's body after the chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy (the tumor) as foreign and attack them. Immunotherapy with the combination therapy described herein can take advantage of this by vaccinating after a transplant. Additionally, the transferred cells may be presented with neoantigens of the combination therapy described herein before transplantation.

In one embodiment the combination therapy is administered to a patient in need thereof with a cancer that requires surgery. In one embodiment the combination therapy described herein is administered to a patient in need thereof in a cancer where the standard of care is primarily surgery followed by treatment to remove possible micro-metastases, such as breast cancer. Breast cancer is commonly treated by various combinations of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy based on the stage and grade of the cancer. Adjuvant therapy for breast cancer is any treatment given after primary therapy to increase the chance of long-term survival. Neoadjuvant therapy is treatment given before primary therapy. Adjuvant therapy for breast cancer is any treatment given after primary therapy to increase the chance of long-term disease-free survival. Primary therapy is the main treatment used to reduce or eliminate the cancer. Primary therapy for breast cancer usually includes surgery, a mastectomy (removal of the breast) or a lumpectomy (surgery to remove the tumor and a small amount of normal tissue around it; a type of breast-conserving surgery). During either type of surgery, one or more nearby lymph nodes are also removed to see if cancer cells have spread to the lymphatic system. When a woman has breast-conserving surgery, primary therapy almost always includes radiation therapy. Even in early-stage breast cancer, cells may break away from the primary tumor and spread to other parts of the body (metastasize). Therefore, doctors give adjuvant therapy to kill any cancer cells that may have spread, even if they cannot be detected by imaging or laboratory tests.

In one embodiment the combination therapy is administered consistent with the standard of care for Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The standard of care for this breast cancer type is:

1. Breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy with or without tamoxifen.

2. Total mastectomy with or without tamoxifen.

3. Breast-conserving surgery without radiation therapy.

The combination therapy may be administered before breast conserving surgery or total mastectomy to shrink the tumor before surgery. In another embodiment the combination therapy can be administered as an adjuvant therapy to remove any remaining cancer cells.

In one embodiment the combination therapy is administered as a neoadjuvant therapy to shrink the tumor. In another embodiment the combination is administered as an adjuvant systemic therapy.

In one embodiment the combination therapy is administered as part of the various components of multimodality regimens. In another embodiment the combination therapy is administered before, simultaneously with, or after the multimodality regimens. In another embodiment the combination therapy is administered based on synergism between the modalities. In another embodiment the combination therapy is administered after treatment with anthracycline-based chemotherapy and/or taxane-based therapy (Zitvogel et al., 2008). Treatment after administering the combination therapy may negatively affect dividing effector T-cells. The combination therapy may also be administered after radiation.

In another embodiment the combination therapy described herein is used in the treatment in a cancer where the standard of care is primarily not surgery and is primarily based on systemic treatments, such as Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

In one embodiment the combination therapy is administered before, simultaneously with or after treatment with Rituximab or Ofatumomab. As these are monoclonal antibodies that target B-cells, treatment with the combination therapy may be synergistic. In another embodiment the combination therapy is administered after treatment with oral alkylating agents with or without corticosteroids, and Fludarabine, 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, or pentostatin, as these treatments may negatively affect the immune system if administered before. In one embodiment bendamustine is administered with the combination therapy in low doses based on the results for prostate cancer described herein. In one embodiment the combination therapy is administered after treatment with bendamustine.

Vaccine or Immunogenic Composition Kits and Co-Packaging

In an aspect, the invention provides kits containing any one or more of the elements discussed herein to allow administration of the combination therapy. Elements may be provided individually or in combinations, and may be provided in any suitable container, such as a vial, a bottle, or a tube. In some embodiments, the kit includes instructions in one or more languages, for example in more than one language. In some embodiments, a kit comprises one or more reagents for use in a process utilizing one or more of the elements described herein. Reagents may be provided in any suitable container. For example, a kit may provide one or more delivery or storage buffers. Reagents may be provided in a form that is usable in a particular process, or in a form that requires addition of one or more other components before use (e.g. in concentrate or lyophilized form). A buffer can be any buffer, including but not limited to a sodium carbonate buffer, a sodium bicarbonate buffer, a borate buffer, a Tris buffer, a MOPS buffer, a HEPES buffer, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the buffer is alkaline. In some embodiments, the buffer has a pH from about 7 to about 10. In some embodiments, the kit comprises one or more of the vectors, proteins and/or one or more of the polynucleotides described herein. The kit may advantageously allow the provision of all elements of the systems of the invention. Kits can involve vector(s) and/or particle(s) and/or nanoparticle(s) containing or encoding RNA(s) for 1-50 or more neoantigen mutations to be administered to an animal, mammal, primate, rodent, etc., with such a kit including instructions for administering to such a eukaryote; and such a kit can optionally include any of the anti-cancer agents described herein. The kit may include any of the components above (e.g. vector(s) and/or particle(s) and/or nanoparticle(s) containing or encoding RNA(s) for 1-50 or more neoantigen mutations, neoantigen proteins or peptides, checkpoint inhibitors) as well as instructions for use with any of the methods of the present invention.

In one embodiment the kit contains at least one vial with an immunogenic composition or vaccine and at least one vial with an anticancer agent. In one embodiment kits may comprise ready to use components that are mixed and ready to administer. In one aspect a kit contains a ready to use immunogenic or vaccine composition and a ready to use anti-cancer agent. The ready to use immunogenic or vaccine composition may comprise separate vials containing different pools of immunogenic compositions. The immunogenic compositions may comprise one vial containing a viral vector or DNA plasmid and the other vial may comprise immunogenic protein. The ready to use anticancer agent may comprise a cocktail of anticancer agents or a single anticancer agent. Separate vials may contain different anti-cancer agents. In another embodiment a kit may contain a ready to use anti-cancer agent and an immunogenic composition or vaccine in a ready to be reconstituted form. The immunogenic or vaccine composition may be freeze dried or lyophilized. The kit may comprise a separate vial with a reconstitution buffer that can be added to the lyophilized composition so that it is ready to be administered. The buffer may advantageously comprise an adjuvant or emulsion according to the present invention. In another embodiment the kit may comprise a ready to reconstitute anti-cancer agent and a ready to reconstitute immunogenic composition or vaccine. In this aspect both may be lyophilized. In this aspect separate reconstitution buffers for each may be included in the kit. The buffer may advantageously comprise an adjuvant or emulsion according to the present invention. In another embodiment the kit may comprise single vials containing a dose of immunogenic composition and anti-cancer agent that are administered together. In another aspect multiple vials are included so that one vial is administered according to a treatment timeline. One vial may only contain the anti-cancer agent for one dose of treatment, another may contain both the anti-cancer agent and immunogenic composition for another dose of treatment, and one vial may only contain the immunogenic composition for yet another dose. In a further aspect the vials are labeled for their proper administration to a patient in need thereof. The immunogen or anti-cancer agents of any embodiment may be in a lyophilized form, a dried form or in aqueous solution as described herein. The immunogen may be a live attenuated virus, protein, or nucleic acid as described herein.

In one embodiment the anticancer agent is one that enhances the immune system to enhance the effectiveness of the immunogenic composition or vaccine. In a preferred embodiment the anti-cancer agent is a checkpoint inhibitor. In another embodiment the kit contains multiple vials of immunogenic compositions and anti-cancer agents to be administered at different time intervals along a treatment plan. In another embodiment the kit may comprise separate vials for an immunogenic composition for use in priming an immune response and another immunogenic composition to be used for boosting. In one aspect the priming immunogenic composition could be DNA or a viral vector and the boosting immunogenic composition may be protein. Either composition may be lyophilized or ready for administering. In another embodiment different cocktails of anti-cancer agents containing at least one anti-cancer agent are included in different vials for administration in a treatment plan.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The present invention is further illustrated in the following Examples which are given for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention in any way.

Cancer Vaccine Testing Protocol

The herein-described compositions and methods may be tested on 15 patients with high-risk melanoma (fully resected stages IIIB, IIC and IVM1a,b) according to the general flow process shown in FIG. 2. Patients may receive a series of priming vaccinations with a mixture of personalized tumor-specific peptides and poly-ICLC over a 4 week period followed by two boosts during a maintenance phase. All vaccinations are subcutaneously delivered. The vaccine or immunogenic composition is evaluated for safety, tolerability, immune response and clinical effect in patients and for feasibility of producing vaccine or immunogenic composition and successfully initiating vaccination within an appropriate time frame. The first cohort can consist of 5 patients, and after safety is adequately demonstrated, an additional cohort of 10 patients may be enrolled. Peripheral blood is extensively monitored for peptide-specific T-cell responses and patients are followed for up to two years to assess disease recurrence.

As described herein, there is a large body of evidence in both animals and humans that mutated epitopes are effective in inducing an immune response and that cases of spontaneous tumor regression or long term survival correlate with CD8+ T-cell responses to mutated epitopes (Buckwalter and Srivastava PK. “It is the antigen(s), stupid” and other lessons from over a decade of vaccitherapy of human cancer. Seminars in immunology 20:296-300 (2008); Karanikas et al, High frequency of cytolytic T lymphocytes directed against a tumor-specific mutated antigen detectable with HLA tetramers in the blood of a lung carcinoma patient with long survival. Cancer Res. 61:3718-3724 (2001); Lennerz et al, The response of autologous T cells to a human melanoma is dominated by mutated neoantigens. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 102:16013 (2005)) and that “immunoediting” can be tracked to alterations in expression of dominant mutated antigens in mice and man (Matsushita et al, Cancer exome analysis reveals a T-cell-dependent mechanism of cancer immunoediting Nature 482:400 (2012); DuPage et al, Expression of tumor-specific antigens underlies cancer immunoediting Nature 482:405 (2012); and Sampson et al, Immunologic escape after prolonged progression-free survival with epidermal growth factor receptor variant III peptide vaccination in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma J Clin Oncol. 28:4722-4729 (2010)).

Next-generation sequencing can now rapidly reveal the presence of discrete mutations such as coding mutations in individual tumors, most commonly single amino acid changes (e.g., missense mutations) and less frequently novel stretches of amino acids generated by frame-shift insertions/deletions/gene fusions, read-through mutations in stop codons, and translation of improperly spliced introns (e.g., neoORFs). NeoORFs are particularly valuable as immunogens because the entirety of their sequence is completely novel to the immune system and so are analogous to a viral or bacterial foreign antigen. Thus, neoORFs: (1) are highly specific to the tumor (i.e. there is no expression in any normal cells); (2) can bypass central tolerance, thereby increasing the precursor frequency of neoantigen-specific CTLs. For example, the power of utilizing analogous foreign sequences in a therapeutic anti-cancer vaccine was recently demonstrated with peptides derived from human papilloma virus (HPV). ˜50% of the 19 patients with pre-neoplastic, viral-induced disease who received 3-4 vaccinations of a mix of HPV peptides derived from the viral oncogenes E6 and E7 maintained a complete response for ≥24 months (Kenter et a, Vaccination against HPV-16 Oncoproteins for Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia NEJM 361:1838 (2009)).

Sequencing technology has revealed that each tumor contains multiple, patient-specific mutations that alter the protein coding content of a gene. Such mutations create altered proteins, ranging from single amino acid changes (caused by missense mutations) to addition of long regions of novel amino acid sequence due to frame shifts, read-through of termination codons or translation of intron regions (novel open reading frame mutations; neoORFs). These mutated proteins are valuable targets for the host's immune response to the tumor as, unlike native proteins, they are not subject to the immune-dampening effects of self-tolerance. Therefore, mutated proteins are more likely to be immunogenic and are also more specific for the tumor cells compared to normal cells of the patient.

Utilizing recently improved algorithms for predicting which missense mutations create strong binding peptides to the patient's cognate MHC molecules, a set of peptides representative of optimal mutated epitopes (both neoORF and missense) for each patient is identified and prioritized and up to 20 or more peptides are prepared for immunization (Zhang et al, Machine learning competition in immunology—Prediction of HLA class I binding peptides J Immunol Methods 374:1 (2011); Lundegaard et al Prediction of epitopes using neural network based methods J Immunol Methods 374:26 (2011)). Peptides ˜20-35 amino acids in length is synthesized because such “long” peptides undergo efficient internalization, processing and cross-presentation in professional antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells, and have been shown to induce CTLs in humans (Melief and van der Burg, Immunotherapy of established (pre) malignant disease by synthetic long peptide vaccines Nature Rev Cancer 8:351 (2008)).

In addition to a powerful and specific immunogen, an effective immune response advantageously includes a strong adjuvant to activate the immune system (Speiser and Romero, Molecularly defined vaccines for cancer immunotherapy, and protective T cell immunity Seminars in Immunol 22:144 (2010)). For example, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have emerged as powerful sensors of microbial and viral pathogen “danger signals”, effectively inducing the innate immune system, and in turn, the adaptive immune system (Bhardwaj and Gnjatic, TLR AGONISTS: Are They Good Adjuvants? Cancer J. 16:382-391 (2010)). Among the TLR agonists, poly-ICLC (a synthetic double-stranded RNA mimic) is one of the most potent activators of myeloid-derived dendritic cells. In a human volunteer study, poly-ICLC has been shown to be safe and to induce a gene expression profile in peripheral blood cells comparable to that induced by one of the most potent live attenuated viral vaccines, the yellow fever vaccine YF-17D (Caskey et al, Synthetic double-stranded RNA induces innate immune responses similar to a live viral vaccine in humans J Exp Med 208:2357 (2011)). Hiltonol®, a GMP preparation of poly-ICLC prepared by Oncovir, Inc, is utilized as the adjuvant.

Target Patient Population

Patients with stage IIIB, IIC and IVM1a,b, melanoma have a significant risk of disease recurrence and death, even with complete surgical resection of disease (Balch et al, Final Version of 2009 AJCC Melanoma Staging and Classification J Clin Oncol 27:6199-6206 (2009)). An available systemic adjuvant therapy for this patient population is interferon-α (IFNα) which provides a measurable but marginal benefit and is associated with significant, frequently dose-limiting toxicity (Kirkwood et al, Interferon alfa-2b Adjuvant Therapy of High-Risk Resected Cutaneous Melanoma: The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Trial EST 1684 J Clin Oncol 14:7-17 (1996); Kirkwood et al, High- and Low-dose Interferon Alpha-2b in High-Risk Melanoma: First Analysis of Intergroup Trial E1690/S9111/C9190 J Clin Oncol 18:2444-2458 (2000)). These patients are not immuno-compromised by previous cancer-directed therapy or by active cancer and thus represent an excellent patient population in which to assess the safety and immunological impact of the vaccine. Finally, current standard of care for these patients does not mandate any treatment following surgery, thus allowing for the 8-10 week window for vaccine preparation.

The target population is cutaneous melanoma patients with clinically detectable, histologically confirmed nodal (local or distant) or in transit metastasis, who have been fully resected and are free of disease (most of stage IIIB (because of the need to have adequate tumor tissue for sequencing and cell line development, patients with ulcerated primary tumor but micrometastatic lymph nodes (Tl-4b, N1a or N2a) is excluded), all of stage IIIC, and stage IVM1a, b). These may be patients at first diagnosis or at disease recurrence after previous diagnosis of an earlier stage melanoma.

Tumor harvest: Patients can undergo complete resection of their primary melanoma (if not already removed) and all regional metastatic disease with the intent of rendering them free of melanoma. After adequate tumor for pathological assessment has been harvested, remaining tumor tissue is placed in sterile media in a sterile container and prepared for disaggregation. Portions of the tumor tissue is used for whole-exome and transcriptome sequencing and cell line generation and any remaining tumor is frozen.

Normal tissue harvest: A normal tissue sample (blood or sputum sample) is taken for whole exome sequencing.

Patients with clinically evident locoregional metastatic disease or fully resectable distant nodal, cutaneous or lung metastatic disease (but absence of unresectable distant or visceral metastatic disease) is identified and enrolled on the study. Entry of patients prior to surgery is necessary in order to acquire fresh tumor tissue for melanoma cell line development (to generate target cells for in vitro cytotoxicity assays as part of the immune monitoring plan).

Dose and Schedule

For patients who have met all pre-treatment criteria, vaccine administration can commence as soon as possible after the study drug has arrived and has met incoming specifications. For each patient, there is four separate study drugs, each containing 5 of 20 patient-specific peptides. Immunizations may generally proceed according to the schedule shown in FIG. 3.

Patients are treated in an outpatient clinic. Immunization on each treatment day can consist of four 1 ml subcutaneous injections, each into a separate extremity in order to target different regions of the lymphatic system to reduce antigenic competition. If the patient has undergone complete axillary or inguinal lymph node dissection, vaccines are administered into the right or left midriff as an alternative. Each injection can consist of 1 of the 4 study drugs for that patient and the same study drug is injected into the same extremity for each cycle. The composition of each 1 ml injection is:

0.75 ml study drug containing 300 sg each of 5 patient-specific peptides

0.25 ml (0.5 mg) of 2 mg/ml poly-ICLC (Hiltonol®)

During the induction/priming phase, patients are immunized on days 1, 4, 8, 15 and 22. In the maintenance phase, patients can receive booster doses at weeks 12 and 24.

Blood samples may be obtained at multiple time points: pre- (baseline; two samples on different days); day 15 during priming vaccination; four weeks after the induction/priming vaccination (week 8); pre- (week 12) and post- (week 16) first boost; pre- (week 24) and post-(week 28) second boost 50-150 ml blood is collected for each sample (except week 16). The primary immunological endpoint is at week 16, and hence patients can undergo leukapheresis (unless otherwise indicated based on patient and physician assessment).

Immune Monitoring

Immuno-histochemistry of the tumor sample is conducted to quantify CD4+, CD8+, MDSC, and Treg infiltrating populations.

Clinical Efficacy in Patients with Metastatic Disease

Neoantigen Preparation

Following surgical resection of the tumor, a portion of the tumor tissue and a blood sample is transferred immediately to the facility where it is assigned a unique identification code for further tracking. The tumor tissue is disaggregated with collagenase and separate portions are frozen for nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) extraction. The blood sample is immediately transferred to a facility for nucleic acid extraction. DNA and/or RNA extracted from the tumor tissue is used for whole-exome sequencing (e.g., by using the Illumina HiSeq platform) and to determine HLA typing information. It is contemplated within the scope of the invention that missense or neoORF neoantigenic peptides may be directly identified by protein-based techniques (e.g., mass spectrometry).

Bioinformatics analysis are conducted as follows. Sequence analysis of the Exome and RNA-SEQ fast Q files leverage existing bioinformatic pipelines that have been used and validated extensively in large-scale projects such as the TCGA for many patient samples (e.g., Chapman et al, 2011, Stransky et al, 2011, Berger et al, 2012). There are two sequential categories of analyses: data processing and cancer genome analysis.

The output of Picard is a bam file (Li et al, 2009) (see, e.g., http://samtools.sourceforge.net/SAM1.pdf) that stores the base sequences, quality scores, and alignment details for all reads for the given sample.

Selection of Tumor-Specific Mutation-Containing Epitopes: All missense mutations and neoORFs are analyzed for the presence of mutation-containing epitopes using the neural-network based algorithm netMHC, provided and maintained by the Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark, Netherlands. This family of algorithms were rated the top epitope prediction algorithms based on a competition recently completed among a series of related approaches (ref). The algorithms were trained using an artificial neural network based approach on 69 different human HLA A and B alleles covering 99% of the HLA-A alleles and 87% of the HLA-B alleles found in the Caucasian population, the major ethnic group in the target patient population in the local area. The most up-do-date version is utilized (v2.4).

The accuracy of the algorithms were evaluated by conducting predictions from mutations found in CLL patients for whom the HLA allotypes were known. The included allotypes were A0101, A0201, A0310, A1101, A2402, A6801, B0702, B0801, B1501. Predictions were made for all 9mer and 10 mer peptides spanning each mutation using netMHCpan in mid-2011. Based on these predictions, seventy-four (74) 9mer peptides and sixty-three (63) 10mer peptides, most with predicted affinities below 500 nM, were synthesized and the binding affinity was measured using a competitive binding assay (Sette).

For 9mer peptides (Table 1), there was little difference between the algorithms, with the slightly higher value for the 151-500 nM range for netMHC cons not judged to be significant because of the low number of samples.

For 10mer peptides (Table 2), again there was little difference between the algorithms except that netMHC produced significantly more false positives than netMHCpan or netMMHCcons. However, the precision of the 10mer predictions are slightly lower in the 0-150 nM and 0-150* nM ranges and significantly lower in the 151-500 nM range, compared to the 9mers.

For 10mers, only predictions in the 0-150 nM range is utilized due to the lower than 50% precision for binders in the 151-500 nM range.

The number of samples for any individual HLA allele was too small to draw any conclusions regarding accuracy of the prediction algorithm for different alleles. Data from the largest available subset (0-150* nM; 9mer) is shown in Table 3 as an example.

Only predictions for HLA A and B alleles are utilized as there is little available data on which to judge accuracy of predictions for HLA C alleles (Zhang et al).

An evaluation of melanoma sequence information and peptide binding predictions was conducted using information from the TCGA database. Information for 220 melanomas from different patients revealed that on average there were approximately 450 missense and 5 neoORFs per patient. 20 patients were selected at random and the predicted binding affinities were calculated for all the missense and neoORF mutations using netMHC (Lundegaard et al Prediction of epitopes using neural network based methods J Immunol Methods 374:26 (2011)). As the HLA allotypes were unknown for these patients, the number of predicted binding peptides per allotype were adjusted based on the frequency of that allotype (Bone Marrow Registry dataset for the expected affected dominant population in the geographic area [Caucasian for melanoma]) to generate a predicted number of actionable mutant epitopes per patient. For each of these mutant epitopes (MUT), the corresponding native (NAT) epitope binding was also predicted.

Utilizing the Prioritization Described Herein:

Thus, there is a sufficient number of mutations in melanoma to expect a high proportion of patients to generate an adequate number of immunogenic peptides.

Peptide Production and Formulation

GMP neoantigenic peptides for immunization is prepared by chemical synthesis Merrifield R B: Solid phase peptide synthesis. I. The synthesis of a tetrapeptide. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149-54, 1963) in accordance with FDA regulations. Three development runs have been conducted of 20 ˜20-30mer peptides each. Each run was conducted in the same facility and utilized the same equipment as is used for the GMP runs, utilizing draft GMP batch records. Each run successfully produced >50 mg of each peptide, which were tested by all currently planned release tests (e.g., Appearance, Identify by MS, Purity by RP-HPLC, Content by Elemental Nitrogen, and TFA content by RP-HPLC) and met the targeted specification where appropriate. The products were also produced within the timeframe anticipated for this part of the process (approximately 4 weeks). The lyophilized bulk peptides were placed on a long term stability study and is evaluated at various time points up to 12 months.

Material from these runs has been used to test the planned dissolution and mixing approach. Briefly, each peptide is dissolved at high concentration (50 mg/ml) in 100% DMSO and diluted to 2 mg/ml in an aqueous solvent. Initially, it was anticipated that PBS would be used as a diluent, however, a salting out of a small number of peptides caused a visible cloudiness. D5W (5% dextrose in water) was shown to be much more effective; 37 of 40 peptides were successfully diluted to a clear solution. The only problematic peptides are very hydrophobic peptides.

Table 4 shows the results of solubility evaluations of 60 potential neoantigen peptides, sorted based on the calculated fraction of hydrophobic amino acids. As shown, almost all peptides with a hydrophobic fraction lower than 0.4 are soluble in DMSO/DSW, but a number of peptides with a hydrophobic fraction greater than or equal to 0.4 were not soluble in DMSO/D5W (indicated by “*” in the column labeled “Solubility in DMSO/D5W”). A number of these can be solubilized by addition of succinate (indicated by “**” in the column “Solubility in DMSO/D5W/Succinate”). 3 of 4 of these peptides had hydrophobic fractions between 0.4 and 0.43. Four peptides became less soluble upon addition of succinate; 3 of 4 of these peptides had a hydrophobic fraction greater than or equal to 0.45.

The predicted biochemical properties of planned immunizing peptides are evaluated and synthesis plans may be altered accordingly (using a shorter peptide, shifting the region to be synthesized in the N- or C-terminal direction around the predicted epitope, or potentially utilizing an alternate peptide) in order to limit the number of peptides with a high hydrophobic fraction.

Ten separate peptides in DMSO/D5W were subjected to two freeze/thaw cycles and showed full recovery. Two individual peptides were dissolved in DMSO/D5W and placed on stability at two temperatures (−20° C. and −80° C.). These peptides were evaluated (RP-HPLC and pH and visual inspection) for up to 24 weeks. Both peptides are stable for up to 24 weeks; the percent impurities detected by the RP-HPLC assay did not change significantly for either peptide when stored at either −20° C. or −80° C. Any small changes appear to be due to assay variability as no trends were noted to be evaluated.

As shown in FIG. 6, the design of the dosage form process are to prepare 4 pools of patient-specific peptides consisting of 5 peptides each. A RP-HPLC assay has been prepared and qualified to evaluate these peptide mixes. This assay achieves good resolution of multiple peptides within a single mix and can also be used to quantitate individual peptides.

Membrane filtration (0.2 μm pore size) is used to reduce bioburden and conduct final filter sterilization. Four different appropriately sized filter types were initially evaluated and the Pall, PES filter (#4612) was selected. To date, 4 different mixtures of 5 different peptides each have been prepared and individually filtered sequentially through two PES filters. Recovery of each individual peptide was evaluated utilizing the RP-HPLC assay. For 18 of the 20 peptides, the recovery after two filtrations was >90%. For two highly hydrophobic peptides, the recovery was below 60% when evaluated at small scale but were nearly fully recovered (87 and 97%) at scale. As stated herein, approaches are undertaken to limit the hydrophobic nature of the sequences selected.

A peptide pool (Pool 4) consisting of five peptides was prepared by dissolution in DMSO, dilution with D5W/Succinate (5 mM) to 2 mg/ml and pooling to a final peptide concentration of 400 μg per ml and a final DMSO concentration of 4%. After preparation, peptides were filtered with a 25 mm Pall PES filter (Cat #4612) and dispensed into Nunc Cryo vials (#375418) in one ml aliquots. Samples were analyzed at time zero and at 2 and 4 weeks to date. Additional samples are analyzed at 8 and 24 weeks. At −80° C., no significant change in the HPLC profiles or impurity profile of the peptide Pool 4 was observed at the four-week time point. Through the 4 week time point, visual observation and pH for the peptide pool did not change.

Peptide Synthesis

GMP peptides are synthesized by standard solid phase synthetic peptide chemistry (e.g., using CS 536 XT peptide synthesizers) and purified by RP-HPLC. Each individual peptide is analyzed by a variety of qualified assays to assess appearance (visual), purity (RP-HPLC), identity (by mass spectrometry), quantity (elemental nitrogen), and trifluoroacetate counterion (RP-HPLC) and released.

The personalized neoantigen peptides may be comprised of up to 20 distinct peptides unique to each patient. Each peptide may be a linear polymer of ˜20-˜30 L-amino acids joined by standard peptide bonds. The amino terminus may be a primary amine (NH2-) and the carboxy terminus is a carbonyl group (—COOH). The standard 20 amino acids commonly found in mammalian cells are utilized (alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine). The molecular weight of each peptide varies based on its length and sequence and is calculated for each peptide.

Each amino acid is coupled twice in order to ensure high level of incorporation. The first coupling utilizes DIC/HOBT for 2-6 hours and the second coupling utilizes DIEA/HBTU for 1-2 hours. Each of the two couplings are monitored by UV absorbance and the resin is washed extensively with DMF in between coupling cycles to improve efficiency. After two cycles of coupling, calculated coupling efficiency must be at least 95% to continue to the next cycle. Further synthesis of any peptides that do not meet that minimal coupling efficiency is stopped.

After all amino acids have been coupled, the resin is washed twice with DMF and subsequently three times with methanol. The resin is then vacuum dried briefly while still in the reaction vessel and then transferred to a new, tared vessel for vacuum drying (greater than 12 hours) until it is freely flowing. The mass of crude peptide synthesized is determined by weighing the vessel containing dried resin, subtracting the mass of the tared vessel and adjusting for the resin mass. Expected mass yields range from 60%-90%. Any synthesis that failed to produce at least 200 mg crude peptide is terminated. The dried resin may be stored at 4° C. for up to 28 days prior to initiation of cleavage.

The cleavage reaction is conducted in a single room. Prior to transfer of the set of patient-specific dried resins from the synthesis room to the cleavage room, the cleavage room is fully qualified by QA for synthesis of a new GMP product. Qualification includes line clearance inspection, verification of GMP suite cleaning, staging of all required materials and glassware, verification of equipment suitability and labeling, and verification that all required personnel are properly trained and qualified to conduct the work and are properly gowned and free of apparent illness.

Room readiness operations initiates with verification of the equipment to be used (rotary evaporator, vacuum pump, balance) and inspection of documentation indicating that the equipment has been properly cleaned and calibrated (if appropriate). A complete list of all raw materials (TFA, triisopropylsilane (TIS) and 1,2-ethanedithiol) required is issued by QA and manufacturing identifies lot number to be utilized, retest or expiration date and quantity of material dispensed for each day's reactions.

Cleavage of the peptide chain from the resin and cleavage of the side chain protecting groups are accomplished under acidic conditions (95% TFA) in the presence of 2% triisopropylsilane (TIS) and 1% 1,2-ethanedithiol as scavengers of acid-generated free-radicals for 3 to 4 hours at room temperature.

Resin is separated from free crude peptide by filtration. The final solution of released and de-protected peptide undergoes precipitation with ether and the precipitate is freeze-dried for 12 hours. The yield of released crude peptide is determined by weighing the freeze-dried powder and calculating the ratio of released crude peptide/resin-bound peptide. Expected yields of crude peptide are 200 mg to 1000 mg. Any cleavage reaction that fails to yield at least 200 mg crude peptide is terminated. The crude peptide is then transferred to the purification suite.

The purification is conducted in a single room. Prior to transfer of the set of dried crude peptide from the cleavage room to the purification room, the purification room is fully qualified by Quality Assurance for synthesis of a new GMP product. Qualification includes line clearance inspection, verification of GMP suite cleaning, staging of all required materials and glassware, verification of equipment suitability and labeling, and verification that all required personnel are properly trained and qualified to conduct the work and are properly gowned and free of apparent illness.

Room readiness operations initiates with verification of the equipment to be used (preparative Reverse-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography [RP-HPLC], balance, analytical Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer (LC/MS), lyophilizer, balance) and inspection of documentation indicating that the equipment has been properly cleaned and calibrated (if appropriate). A complete list of all raw materials (trifluoroacetic acid [TFA], acetonitrile [ACN], water) required is issued by QA and Manufacturing identifies lot number to be utilized, retest or expiration date and quantity of material dispensed for each day's reactions.

Purification is initiated by dissolving no more than 200 mg of the freeze-dried released peptide in ACN. The sample is then further diluted with water to 5%-10% ACN. TFA is added to a final concentration of 0.1%. One C-18 RP-HPLC column (10 cm×250 cm) is freshly packed prior to the initiation of each set of patient specific peptides. Columns are extensively washed with 5% acetonitrile containing 0.1% TFA prior to loading patient peptide. Maximum amount of peptide loaded onto a single column is 200 mgs. Columns are monitored by UV observance at 220 nm. Following loading of single peptide, the sample is allowed to enter the column and column is washed with 5% acetonitrile/0.1% TFA. A 10%-50% gradient of acetonitrile with 0.1% TFA is used to elute the peptide. Fractions is collected (50 ml each) beginning at the point UV observance is at 20% above baseline. Fractions continue to be collected until no further UV absorbing material is eluting from the column or the gradient is complete. Typically, the main elution peak is separated into 4 to 8 fractions.

Each individual fraction is assessed by analytical LC/MS. Analytical conditions chosen is based on the percent acetonitrile associated with the peak eluted product. Fractions with the expected mass and purity greater than or equal to 95% is pooled as peptide product. Typically 2 to 4 fractions meet this pooling requirement. The pooled peptide is placed into a tared jar for freeze-drying and freeze-dried for 24 to 72 hours. The mass of lyophilized peptide is determined by determining the mass of the jar containing freeze-dried peptide and subtracting the mass of the tared jar.

Portions of the freeze-dried peptide is transferred to quality control for analysis and disposition. The remaining is stored at −20° C. prior to further processing.

Any peptides for which none of the fractions meet the requirement of 95% purity is discarded. No reprocessing of RP-HPLC fractions can occur. If sufficient unpurified freeze-dried and cleaved peptide is available, a second sample of the peptide may be purified over the column, adjusting the gradient conditions to improve purity of the eluted peptide.

The column can then be stripped of any remaining peptide by washing extensively with 4 column volumes of 100% ACN/0.1% TFA and then re-equilibrated with 5% ACN/0.1% TFA prior to loading the next peptide.

Peptides for an individual patient is sequentially processed over the same column. No more than 25 peptides are processed over a single column.

Unit operations for drug substance manufacturing thus constitute:

Personalized neoantigen peptides may be supplied as a box containing 2 ml Nunc Cryo vials with color-coded caps, each vial containing approximately 1.5 ml of a frozen DMSO/D5W solution containing up to 5 peptides at a concentration of 400 ug/ml. There may be 10-15 vials for each of the four groups of peptides. The vials are to be stored at −80° C. until use. Ongoing stability studies support the storage temperature and time.

Storage and Stability: The personalized neoantigen peptides are stored frozen at −80° C. The thawed, sterile filtered, in process intermediates and the final mixture of personalized neoantigen peptides and poly-ICLC can be kept at room temperature but should be used within 4 hours.

Compatibility: The personalized neoantigen peptides are mixed with ⅓ volume poly-ICLC just prior to use.

NeoVax. A Neoplasia Vaccine, and Nivolumab in Preventing Relapse Following Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL).

Three exemplary dosing regimens are provided herein. The first two are focused on improving the activity of Nivolumab, a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody developed for the treatment of cancer that acts by blocking ligand activation of the programmed cell death 1 (PCD1) receptor on activated T cells, by evaluating the combination of the novel personalized neoantigen vaccine (also referred to herein as “NeoVax,” and disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application 61/869,721, 61/809,406 and 61/913,127, incorporated by reference in their entireties herein), and Nivolumab. The third dosing regimen focuses on improving the safety and activity profile of Ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA4), either alone or in combination with Nivolumab by reducing Ipilimumab overall exposure, enabled by a focusing of Ipilimumab co-therapy to the time-frame of the developing the immune response to NeoVax. This reduced exposure is enabled by the combination with an effective vaccine and can be achieved by either reducing the dose of Ipilimumab or lengthening the period between doses or by delivering Ipilimumab subcutaneously near to the vaccination site and temporally coincident with vaccination. Each is explained in more detail herein.

Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (AHSCT) is an effective option for patients suffering relapse after initial induction therapy but long term remission and cures are rarely observed. Recently, based on the observed expression of programmed cell death 1 ligand (PDL1) on the surface of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL), a study of anti-PD1 antibody (pidilizumab) treatment following AHSCT was conducted (Armand et al. Journal of Clinical Oncology 31:4199 (2013)); incorporated by reference in its entirety herein). That study showed encouraging indications of beneficial activity including improved progression free survival in anti-PD1 treated patients compared to other recent clinical trials, changes in immune cell populations consistent with effective reversal of PD-1 mediated suppression, and an increase in survival of CD4+, CD54RO+ memory cells. Nevertheless, improved therapies are needed, particularly for patients who demonstrate residual disease after AHSCT.

While anti-PD1 therapy may help relieve local immune suppression and over-come T-cell exhaustion or anergy, limitations on the number and specificity of the existing T-cell population may prevent maximal impact of this effect. Hence, combining anti-PD1 therapy with an immune stimulating approach, such as a cancer vaccine, may allow anti-PD1 to demonstrate maximal clinical benefit.

NeoVax (a neoplasia vaccine) is a novel personalized cancer vaccine utilizing the exquisitely tumor-specific neoantigens created by the personal mutations found in each patient's tumor (Hacohen et al Cancer Immunology Research 1:11 (2013); Heemskerk et al. EMBO Journal 32:194 (2013); both incorporated by reference herein). These mutations, because they result in peptides that are distinct from “self”-peptides, create epitopes that are expected to escape the immune dampening effects of central tolerance. NeoVax vaccine therapy is being developed to create stronger and more durable responses than those characteristic of the multiple native antigen (“Tumor Associated Antigens; TAAs) which have clinically proven ineffective to date alone, or in combination with checkpoint blockade inhibition. NeoVax product is disclosed in disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application 61/869,721, 61/809,406 and 61/913,127, incorporated by reference in their entireties herein, and utilizes multiple (˜20) long peptides as immunogens, each representing separate target epitopes, and poly-ICLC as adjuvant. Long peptides and polyICLC represent the “best in class” delivery system and immune adjuvant respectively. The first-in-human clinical study with NeoVax is described on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 01970358).

Combining an effective immune stimulating agent with the relief of immune suppression would be expected to improve clinical outcome. The post-AHSCT setting is characterized by a low volume of residual disease, the infusion of immune cells to a situation of homeostatic expansion, and the absence of any standard relapse-delaying therapy. These features provide a unique opportunity to test the impact of a checkpoint inhibitor, such a Nivolumab, plus NeoVax therapy to delay disease relapse.

An exploratory two arm study is carried out to compare treatment with Nivolumab alone vs Nivolumab and NeoVax in a small number of patients to evaluate safety and to monitor the impact of treatment on Progression Free Survival (PFS) and, for any patients with measurable disease at the time of confirmatory screening, for Objective Response Rate (ORR). Patients are consented prior to initiation of pre-transplant conditioning in order to collect and sequence tumor tissue for vaccine preparation and is randomized at time of a confirmatory CT screening (approximately 4 weeks prior to of initiation of therapy). Fifteen patients are included in each agent arm. The results are compared to comparable patients receiving no additional post-AHSCT at this institution(s). An outline of the study is shown in FIG. 8.

Patients on the vaccine alone arm with progressive disease may, at the discretion of the investigator and the PI, begin receiving Nivolumab at about 3 weeks to attempt rescue.

CT scans are conducted every 4 months after initiation of therapy (with confirmatory PET scans at the discretion of the treating physician) with a final CT scan at 16 months after initiation of therapy. All patients receiving NeoVax is evaluated for immune responses to the immunizing peptides.

This study can provide additional safety information in this setting but most importantly extend and improve, with NeoVax, the encouraging results observed already with pidilizumab in this setting.

NeoVax and Nivolumab in Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma.

Clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) and metastatic melanoma are both tumor types that have been shown to be responsive to immune modulating therapies, including cytokines, vaccines and inhibition of checkpoint blockade. Multiple immune modulating therapies have been approved for both diseases, including Ipilimumab for metastatic melanoma. Nivolumab has been evaluated as a single agent in non-blinded, non-randomized Phase I/II trial with encouraging results in both diseases and multiple pivotal studies are currently underway utilizing Nivolumab alone or Nivolumab and Ipilimumab combinations.

Despite this success of checkpoint blockade, there are still many patients who do not respond or do not respond robustly and the lack of coincident targeted immune stimulation with an effective vaccine may prevent the maximal impact of such therapy. Checkpoint blockade therapy alone may help relieve local immune suppression and over-come T-cell exhaustion or anergy, but may be limited by the number and specificity of the existing T-cell population—those T cells arising from the normal physiological presentation of the evolving tumor to the host immune system. Indeed, in many animal studies, including the studies supporting the initial development of Ipilimumab, anti-CTLA4 treatment alone was only mildly effective but was considerably more effective when combined with a vaccine.

Combining an effective vaccine with the relief of immune suppression may qualitatively broaden the repertoire of T cell targets as well as strengthen the activity of extant and newly induced T cells and could thus significantly improve clinical outcomes.

Separate studies are carried out combining NeoVax with Nivolumab in previously untreated metastatic melanoma patients (with a surgically accessible tumor for sequence analysis) and in previously untreated metastatic clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma patients who have a resectable primary tumor in place. An outline of the studies are shown in FIG. 9. Each study is a two-arm study comparing Nivolumab alone to Nivolumab+NeoVax. Patients are consented prior to surgery. Patients are evaluated for Objective Response Rate (ORR), Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS). Nivolumab isgin dosing at the standard single agent dosing level of 3 mg/kg as soon as acceptable following surgical tumor removal and continue each 2 weeks until documented progression, discontinuation due to toxicity or withdrawal of consent. NeoVax therapy can initiate approximately 8 weeks after tumor resection is administered on days 1, 4, 8, 15, and 22 (Weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4; “Priming Phase”) and on weeks 11 and 19 (“boosts”). Nivolumab is withheld during the period of priming vaccinations. 15 patients are included in each arm.

Upon initial indication of progressive disease, patients may, at the discretion of the investigator, continue on therapy or on the protocol until confirmation or not of disease progression (which must be resolved within 6 weeks of initial indication).

CT scans are conducted every 4 months after initiation of therapy (with confirmatory PET scans at the discretion of the treating physician) with a final CT scan at 24 months after initiation of therapy. All patients receiving NeoVax is evaluated for immune responses to the immunizing peptides.

An effective vaccine provides the opportunity to considerably improve the clinical outcome of Nivolumab therapy by increasing the breadth of T-cell responses and NeoVax is a first-in-class vaccine focused on neoantigens, a class of highly personal-tumor specific epitopes not subject to the immune dampening effects of self-tolerance. Reciprocally, checkpoint blockade inhibition during vaccination may increase the breadth and immune response level to NeoVax. These exploratory studies are done in disease settings different than the ongoing pivotal studies (prior to failure with Ipilimumab for Melanoma and prior to systemic anti-VEGF targeted therapy for RCC) allowing collection of safety and efficacy data of Nivolumab alone in these settings.

Reduced Dose/Schedule Ipilimumab in Combination with NeoVax in High Risk Melanoma (without Nivolumab) and Metastatic Melanoma (with Systemic Nivolumab).

CTLA4 was initially identified as negative regulator on the surface of T-cells that was upregulated shortly after initiation of a de novo immune response or stimulation of an existing response in order to dampen the subsequent immune T-cell response and prevent auto-immunity or uncontrolled inflammation. Thus, the magnitude of the developing immune response has been closely tied to CTLA4 action. Therapy with anti-CTLA4 antibodies, such as Ipilimumab, was expected to increase the anti-cancer response by blocking the negative regulatory signal and allowing more extensive T-cell expansion. Although many animal and human correlative studies have suggested other possible mechanisms of action, the clinical responses observed with Ipilimumab are consistent with such a hypothesis and recently it was shown that antigen-specific T-cells to a personal neoantigen in a patient treated with Ipilimumab were observed prior to Ipilimumab therapy and increased following therapy (van Rooij et al, Journal of Clinical Oncology 31:e439 (2013)).

Many studies in animals have shown that combining anti-CTLA4 treatment with a vaccine enhances, sometimes dramatically, the anti-cancer effect and anecdotal information in humans suggests the same (Hodi et al, PNAS USA 105:3005-3010, 2008; Hodi et al., PNAS USA 100:4712-7; Le et al, J Immunother 36:382-9, 2013). This may depend critically on the antigen as the most dramatic effects of the combination in animals and the effects in humans are typically observed with complex vaccines such as autologous cellular vaccines and were not observed with a standard individual tumor associated antigen (such as gp100 for melanoma). Autologous tumor cell vaccines contain both neoantigens and tumor associated antigens (Hodi et al, 2008 and 2003). In the study of Le et al. (2013), a mixture of two pancreatic allogeneic tumor cell lines was used as the immunogen. Although it is unlikely there was any overlap of almost all neoantigens between the cell lines and the patients, pancreatic cancer is characterized by frequent K-ras mutations at position 12 which can be immunogenic for multiple HLA types (Weden et al., Int J Cancer 128:1120-8, 2011).

Nivolumab, an anti-Programmed Death Receptor 1 (PD1) antibody, may have a distinct mechanism of action. The ligand for PD1, PDL1, is often over-expressed on tumor cells in the native tumor micro-environment and is an inhibitory ligand, causing T-cell anergy/exhaustion of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. It seemed likely therefore that a combination of anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 antibodies may yield greater positive results because they have different mechanisms of action and this has been observed in animals (Duraiswamy et al, Cancer Res; 73(12) and possibly in humans (Wolchok J D et al., N Engl J Med, 2013). Unfortunately, the combination therapy appears to be more toxic both in the initial report and in ongoing clinical evaluation (Wolchok, 2013).

One approach to reducing the apparent toxicity while maintaining or increasing efficacy of the combination therapy would be to add in an effective vaccine to the therapeutic regimen (to directly generate effective de novo T cell responses to additional antigens) and simultaneously reduce the total exposure to checkpoint blockade antibodies. Although the two CPB Abs have not been compared side-by-side, in general anti-CTLA4 appears to generate a higher toxicity profile than anti-PD1, consistent with the effects observed in knock-out mice. Given that CTLA4 has a clear role in the de novo immune response, this would suggest that limiting anti-CTLA4 exposure to the time frame of antigen exposure may achieve both toxicity reduction and maintenance of efficacy.

Described herein are four exploratory studies in melanoma patients. Studies 3A and 3B, outlined in FIGS. 10A and 10B, are in metastatic disease and utilize both Ipilimumab and Nivolumab. Studies 3C and 3D, outlined in FIGS. 10C and 10D, mirror 3A and 3B except that the setting is high-risk disease and do not utilize Nivolumab.

The first study (3A) is a 3 cohort dose escalating (dose escalating for Ipilimumab only) study in metastatic melanoma patients. Patients are consented prior to surgery. Five patients can initially be included in each cohort. In each cohort, patients can receive Nivolumab beginning just after surgical excision (for tumor sequencing) at 3 mg/kg (the dose being evaluated in all Nivolumab alone phase 3 studies) each 2 weeks until NeoVax has been prepared. Nivolumab is with-held during the priming vaccination phase and during the weeks prior to or during the boost when Ipilimumab is being given. NeoVax therapy can initiate approximately 8 weeks after tumor resection and is administered on days 1, 4, 8, 15, and 22 (Weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4; “Priming Phase”) and on weeks 11 and 19 (“boosts”). Nivolumab is resumed in the week following the last priming dose and in the week following each boost. In the first cohort, patients can receive Ipilimumab at the start of the priming cycle, one week after the 5th priming dose and prior to each boost, all at a dose of 1 mg/kg. The next cohort can increase the dose associated with the start of priming vaccination to 3 mg/kg (the therapeutically approved level) and the dose associated with the end of priming and the boosts can remain at 1 mg/kg. For the third cohort, the start of priming dose and the dose associated with each boost is at 3 mg/kg. (See graphic view of the schedule herein). The maximal exposure to Ipilimumab can thus be three 3 mg/kg doses and one 1 mg/kg dose spread over 19 weeks, about 2.5-fold lower than the approved regimen (four 3 mg/kg doses spread over 10 weeks). Two expansion cohorts (five patients each) is added at the highest dose level judged to have a toxicity profile comparable to that observed with Nivolumab alone and at the next highest dose level (if the overall toxicity profile is acceptable). For each cohort, the quantitative and qualitative features of the immune response to the neoantigens are evaluated. Patients are followed for Objective Response Rate (ORR), Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS).

The second study (3B) is of similar design to study 3A except that Ipilimumab is delivered via subcutaneous injection near to (within 2 cm) each vaccination site with each vaccination in order to focus anti-CTLA4 activity on the vaccine draining lymph nodes and limit systemic effects. Nivolumab is delivered as described herein. There is three dose escalation cohorts. The first cohort can inject 0.2 ml of 5 mg/ml Ipilimumab at each vaccination site with each vaccination. The second cohort can increase the volume to 0.5 ml and the third cohort to 1.0 ml. The maximal exposure to Ipilimumab is 140 mg over 19 weeks (about 11-fold lower than 840 mg [for a 70 kg patient] spread over 10 weeks for the approved regimen). Two expansion cohorts (five patients each) is added at the highest dose level judged to have a toxicity profile comparable to that observed with Nivolumab alone and at the next highest dose level (if there is one and the overall toxicity profile is acceptable). Patients are evaluated as described herein.

The third and the fourth study, described herein, essentially mirror the 1st and 2nd except that each is in high risk disease and does not utilize Nivolumab.

The third study (3C) is a 3 cohort dose escalating (Ipilimumab only) study in high risk (Stage IIIB, IIIC and fully resected IV) melanoma or surgically resected ccRCC patients. Patients are consented prior to surgery. Five patients can initially be included in each cohort. NeoVax therapy can initiate approximately 8 weeks after tumor resection and is administered on days 1, 4, 8, 15, and 22 (Weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4; “Priming Phase”) and on weeks 11 and 19 (“boosts”). In the first cohort, patients can receive Ipilimumab at the start of the priming cycle, one week after the 5th priming dose and prior to each boost, all at a dose of 1 mg/kg. The next cohort can increase the dose associated with the start of priming vaccination to 3 mg/kg (the therapeutically approved level) and the dose associated with the end of priming and the boosts can remain at 1 mg/kg. For the third cohort, the start of priming dose and the dose associated with each boost is at 3 mg/kg. (See graphic view of the schedule herein). The maximal exposure to Ipilimumab can thus be three 3 mg/kg doses and one 1 mg/kg dose spread over 19 weeks, about 2.5-fold lower than the approved regimen (four 3 mg/kg doses spread over 10 weeks). One expansion cohorts (ten patients) is added at the highest dose level judged to have an acceptable toxicity profile consistent with adjuvant therapy and the recurrence risk profile. For each cohort, the quantitative and qualitative features of the immune response to the neoantigens are evaluated. Patients are followed for Recurrence Free Survival (RFS) for up to two years as in protocol 13-240.

The fourth study (3D) is of similar design to Study 3B except that Ipilimumab is delivered via subcutaneous injection near to (within 1 cm) each vaccination site with each vaccination in order to focus anti-CTLA4 activity on the vaccine draining lymph nodes and limit systemic effects. There is three dose escalation cohorts. The first cohort can inject 0.2 ml of 5 mg/ml Ipilimumab at each vaccination site with each vaccination. The second cohort can increase the volume to 0.5 ml and the third cohort to 1.0 ml. The maximal exposure to Ipilimumab is 140 mg over 19 weeks (about 11-fold lower than 840 mg [for a 70 kg patient] spread over 10 weeks for the approved regimen). One expansion cohorts (ten patients) is added at the highest dose level judged to have an acceptable toxicity profile consistent with adjuvant therapy and the recurrence risk profile. For each cohort, the quantitative and qualitative features of the immune response to the neoantigens are evaluated. Patients are followed for Recurrence Free Survival (RFS) for up to two years as in protocol 13-240.

The exciting results of the combination of Ipilimumab and Nivolumab is tempered by increased toxicity. Although potentially manageable by appropriate monitoring and response (to be confirmed in larger studies), the underlying biology of the molecules and the observations that have accumulated from animal and some human studies would suggest that coupling an effective vaccine with Ipilimumab may allow a reduced Ipilimumab overall exposure while maintaining or increasing efficacy. NeoVax is a paradigm shifting vaccine that has the potential for generating significantly stronger and more specific immune responses and to synergize with Ipilimumab. These studies provide the opportunity to maintain or increase efficacy while reducing toxicity. In addition, extending the reduced intensity concept may allow effective and setting-appropriate expansion of Ipilimumab to high risk disease.

Phase I Study Design Combining NeoVax, a Personalized NeoAntigen Cancer Vaccine, with Ipilimumab to Treat High-Risk Renal Cell Carcinoma

Sequencing technology has revealed that each tumor contains multiple, patient-specific mutations that alter the protein coding content of a gene.₁ Such mutations create altered proteins, ranging from single amino acid changes (caused by missense mutations) to addition of long regions of novel amino acid sequence due to frame shifts, read-through of termination codons or translation of intron regions (novel open reading frame mutations; neoORFs). These mutated proteins are valuable targets for the host's immune response to the tumor as, unlike native proteins, they are not subject to the immune-dampening effects of self-tolerance. Therefore, mutated proteins are more likely to be immunogenic and are also more specific for the tumor cells compared to normal cells of the patient.₂

There have been multiple reports indicating that missense mutations or neoORFs in animal tumors induce strong CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) reactions, in some cases leading to prevention or eradication of disease._3-6. More recently Matsushita and colleagues demonstrated that a single amino acid change in a normal murine structural protein (spectrin-β2) was the dominant target for immune attack against a methylcholanthrene-induced transplantable tumor, defining whether the tumor would survive or not following transplantation.₇ Furthermore, spectrin-β2 expression was also dramatically reduced in escape variants, providing a clear mechanistic example of the immunoediting hypothesis. At the same time, DuPage and colleagues made a similar observation using a small immunogenic neoORF in the mouse (ovalbumin peptide).₈ Both of these studies indicate that the immuno-edited neoantigen is therefore sufficient as the target of an effective anti-tumor response.

Correspondingly, many human studies of spontaneous regression and long-term survival have shown that powerful CD8+ T cell responses against mutated epitopes correlate with good clinical responses 9 These studies began with the first identification of human immunogenic neoantigens_10,11 and the seminal study by Lennerz demonstrating the strength and durability of neoantigen response compared to native protein responses₁₂, and now have included the observations of an increase in neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cells in a patient responding to anti-CTLA-4 therapy₁₃ and tumor regression following infusion of a tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) population highly enriched in a neoantigen directed CD4+ T cell.₁₄ These observations were made in multiple cancer types for multiple HLA alleles and have been widely observed in tumor infiltrating T cell populations_15,16. Most of the CD8+ T cell responses show a high degree of specificity toward the mutated missense epitope compared to the native epitope, represent a high proportion of circulating T cells, and result in cells that are more abundant and active than CD8+ T cell responses in the same patients directed toward over-expressed native antigens.

Thus, in animals and in humans, immune responses to both discrete, mutated antigens (such as missense mutations) and expansive novel antigens (neoORFs) are observationally correlated with regression and long-term remission. Extending that correlation among a large set (n=468) of patients found in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, a recent meta-analysis of six tumor types revealed a significant survival advantage (hazard ratio=0.53; p=0.002) for patients with at least one predicted immunogenic neoepitope compared to patients with no predicted immunogenic epitopes.₁₇

Three studies in humans have directly assessed the immunotherapeutic potential of mutated antigens. First, follicular lymphoma is characterized by uncontrolled growth of a B cell expressing rearranged immunoglobulin. Purification of that rearranged immunoglobulin and use as a vaccine may improve disease-free survival.₁₈ The induced CD8+ T cells showed reactivity to the rearranged, mutated portion of the immunoglobulin molecule (the idiotype) and not the germline framework.₁₉ Second, a mix of peptides corresponding to the oncogenic proteins of HPV (a neoORF for humans) has been shown to result in significant remission of premalignant lesions induced by HPV._20,22 Finally, immunization with a synthetic version of an in-frame junctional deletion variant of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRviii) in two studies in glioblastoma patients, a population known to frequently contain this mutation, provided encouraging phase 2 results._23,24 Importantly, in both studies, evaluation of tumors in patients with tumor recurrence showed that the recurrent tumors almost uniformly (20 of 23) lost expression of EGFRviii. This was interpreted as clear evidence of immunoediting due to immune pressure against an immunogenic neoantigen in humans.

Most cancer vaccines employing peptides as immunogens have utilized “short” peptides. These peptides are typically 9-10 amino acids in length and capable of direct binding to the HLA molecule on the surface of HLA-expressing cells. “Long” peptides, about 20-30 amino acids in length, have recently been shown to produce a more robust and more durable immune response_20,21. Long peptides require internalization, processing and cross-presentation in order to bind to HLA molecules; these functions only occur in professional antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells, which can induce strong T cell responses.

Many studies in humans have demonstrated the safety of peptide vaccines. These include studies with multiple short peptides₂₅ as well as multiple long peptides, including neoORFs. In particular, four studies have been conducted with a mixture of 10 overlapping long peptides derived from p53_26-30 and five separate studies with a mixture of 13 long peptides derived from the oncogenic proteins of HPV._20-22,31,32 In these studies, no toxicity higher than grade 2 was observed and most adverse events were of limited duration and severity. Additionally, many heterologous antigen preparations have been tested in humans. Such preparations include irradiated cell vaccines,_33,34 tumor cell lysates₃₅ and shed tumor cell line antigens.₃₆ These heterogeneous vaccines contain mutated antigens, in the form of intact proteins, partially degraded intracellular protein, and peptides found on the surface bound to MHC I. Moreover, they contain over-expressed and selectively-expressed molecules as well as many additional native proteins. In addition, purified heat shock protein (HSP) 96 peptide complexes have been used as antigen; such complexes also contain many mutated peptides.₃₇ None of these studies have reported significant safety issues directly attributable to the immunogens of the vaccines.

Toll like receptors (TLRs) are important members of the family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) which recognize conserved motifs shared by many micro-organisms, termed “pathogen-associated molecular patterns” (PAMPS). Recognition of these “danger signals” activates multiple elements of the innate and adaptive immune system. TLRs are expressed by cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems such as dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, T and B cells, mast cells, and granulocytes and are localized in different cellular compartments, such as the plasma membrane, lysosomes, endosomes, and endolysosomes₃₈. Different TLRs recognize distinct PAMPS. For example, TLR4 is activated by LPS contained in bacterial cell walls, TLR9 is activated by unmethylated bacterial or viral CpG DNA, and TLR3 is activated by double stranded RNA₃₉. TLR ligand binding leads to the activation of one or more intracellular signaling pathways, ultimately resulting in the production of many key molecules associated with inflammation and immunity (particularly the transcription factor NF-κB and the Type-I interferons).

TLR mediated DC activation leads to enhanced DC activation, phagocytosis, upregulation of activation and co-stimulation markers such as CD80, CD83, and CD86, expression of CCR7 allowing migration of DC to draining lymph nodes and facilitating antigen presentation to T cells, as well as increased secretion of cytokines such as type I interferons, IL-12, and IL-6. All of these downstream events are critical for the induction of an adaptive immune response.

Among the most promising cancer vaccine adjuvants currently in clinical development are the TLR9 agonist CpG and the synthetic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) TLR3 ligand poly-ICLC. In preclinical studies poly-ICLC appears to be the most potent TLR adjuvant when compared to LPS and CpG due to its induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lack of stimulation of IL-10, as well as maintenance of high levels of co-stimulatory molecules in DCs40. Furthermore, poly-ICLC was recently directly compared to CpG in non-human primates (rhesus macaques) as adjuvant for a protein vaccine consisting of human papillomavirus (HPV)16 capsomers. Poly-ICLC was found to be much more effective in inducing HPV specific Th1 immune responses₄₁.

Poly-ICLC is a synthetically prepared double-stranded RNA consisting of polyI and polyC strands of average length of about 5000 nucleotides, which has been stabilized to thermal denaturation and hydrolysis by serum nucleases by the addition of polylysine and carboxymethylcellulose. The compound activates TLR3 and the RNA helicase-domains of MDA5 and RIG3, both members of the PAMP family, leading to DC and natural killer (NK) cell activation and production of a “natural mix” of type I interferons, cytokines, and chemokines. Furthermore, poly-ICLC exerts a more direct, broad host-targeted anti-infectious and possibly anti-tumor effect mediated by the two IFN-inducible nuclear enzyme systems, the 2′5′-OAS and the P1/eIF2a kinase, also known as the PKR (4-6), as well as RIG-I helicase and MDA5.

In rodents and non-human primates, poly-ICLC was shown to enhance T cell responses to viral antigens_42-45, cross-priming, and the induction of tumor-, virus-, and autoantigen-specific CD8+ T-cells_46-48. In a recent study in non-human primates, poly-ICLC was found to be essential for the generation of antibody responses and T-cell immunity to DC targeted or non-targeted HIV Gag p24 protein, emphasizing its effectiveness as a vaccine adjuvant.

In human subjects, transcriptional analysis of serial whole blood samples revealed similar gene expression profiles among 8 healthy human volunteers receiving one single s.c. administration of poly-ICLC and differential expression of up to 212 genes between these 8 subjects versus 4 subjects receiving placebo₄₉. Remarkably, comparison of the poly-ICLC gene expression data to previous data from volunteers immunized with the highly effective yellow fever vaccine YF17D50 showed that a large number of transcriptional and signal transduction canonical pathways, including those of the innate immune system, were similarly upregulated at peak time points.

Two studies of poly-ICLC in conjunction with long peptides have been published. An immunologic analysis was reported on patients with ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer in second or third complete clinical remission who were treated on a phase 1 study of subcutaneous vaccination with synthetic overlapping long peptides (OLP) from the cancer testis antigen NY-ESO-1 alone or with Montanide-ISA-51, or with 1.4 mg poly-ICLC and Montanide. The generation of NY-ESO-1-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell and antibody responses were markedly enhanced with the addition of poly-ICLC and Montanide compared to OLP alone or OLP and Montanide.₅₁ In a second human study, poly-ICLC was combined with a MUCI synthetic long peptide in patients with pre-malignant adenomas. Robust antibody responses were detected in nearly half the patients which inversely correlated with the pre-existing circulating myeloid derived suppressor cell level.₅₂

Poly-ICLC has also been utilized as an adjuvant for immunization with minimal epitope-loaded patient-derived dendritic cells. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses to multiple peptides were observed in the majority of patients.₅₃

Poly-ICLC is the TLR3 agonist formulation most extensively tested in patients with infectious diseases and in subjects with a variety of different tumor types. Prior to the availability of recombinant interferon, poly-ICLC was used clinically at high doses ≥6 mg/m2 (about 170 μg/kg) in patients with a variety of solid tumors and leukemia.₅₃ Fever, often above 40° C., was a common adverse event and the primary dose-limiting factor. Other common adverse events were flu-like symptoms (nausea, vomiting, arthralgia. myalgia and fatigue) and hypotension, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. Once recombinant interferon became clinically available, the need to pursue high dose poly-ICLC was eliminated, and it became recognized that lower doses (10-50 gig/kg) were highly effective at stimulating host defense and as an immune adjuvant.

By now, more than 400 patients with malignant gliomas have been entered on 7 clinical trials using low dose (1-2 mg total dose) poly-ICLC either as monotherapy or in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiation, or vaccine (Table 5). Furthermore, patients with various other solid tumors (prostate, colorectal, pancreatic, hepatocellular, breast, and ovarian cancers), in addition to patients with HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis have been treated on more than 10 additional clinical phase I and phase II studies. Overall, the drug has been well-tolerated across all studies and spectrum of diseases.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the ten most common cancers and the incidence is increasing. Between 20 and 30% of patients initially present with metastatic disease, which is generally incurable, whereas 30% of patients who undergo curative-intent nephrectomy experience recurrence with distant metastases. Targeted systemic agents such as inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) have provided significant clinical benefit for patients with metastatic disease, but tumor responses are not durable and most patients relapse and eventually succumb to the disease₅₄. Combinations of existing therapeutic modalities are being investigated in these settings but are associated with significant toxicities and modest added activity. Effective adjuvant treatment of resected, high-risk patients with presumably micrometastatic, if any, disease burden is lacking. Innovative approaches are therefore necessary to achieve substantial improvement.

Perhaps more than any other therapeutic approach, immunotherapy has the potential for curative outcome by capturing the diversity and long-lasting memory of the immune system and its ability to destroy malignant tumor cells and prevent relapse. High dose interleukin-2 (HD-IL2) is used in patients with metastatic ccRCC based on a durable complete remission rate of 7%, but this therapy is only offered in select centers due to its significant toxicity and there is no established biomarker to predict for responses. Nevertheless, the results with HD-IL2 provide proof that “first generation” immunotherapy attempts can work in ccRCC.

Two immunotherapeutic approaches are being actively evaluated in ccRCC and other diseases—antigen-specific immunization (vaccination) and, more recently, non-specific immune stimulation via treatment with checkpoint blockade antibodies (CPB)_56-58. Vaccines in ccRCC to date have provided hints of efficacy but tumor response rates and durability of tumor responses remain low,_59,60 most likely due to the lack of effective tumor-specific immune responses induced with these approaches. Historically, most cancer vaccines have utilized tumor-associated antigens (TAA), a class of native proteins, which are preferentially or selectively expressed on tumor cells, but can also be found on some normal cells. Native proteins generate relatively weak immune responses due to central tolerance (the naturally occurring phenomenon that prevents the immune system from recognizing self-antigens and thereby generating auto-immunity). Despite the relatively weak results achieved with TAA vaccination to date, several pivotal clinical studies are underway in ccRCC utilizing such native antigens, pointing to the demand for more effective therapies.

DNA sequencing, particularly next-generation sequencing technology, has revealed a genetic landscape of cancer that contains many protein coding mutations found uniquely in the tumor of an individual patient. These mutations include both single-amino acid missense mutations (the predominant type) and novel open reading frames created by frame-shift or read-through mutations (neoORFs) varying in length from 1 to up to 100's of amino acids. There is evidence in both animals and humans demonstrating that such mutated epitopes are effective at inducing an immune response. Importantly, strong CD8+ T cell responses against mutated epitopes have been found in patients with multiple tumor types who either had a spontaneous regression or a dramatic response after adoptive T cell transfer, suggesting that there may be an association with CD8+ T cell activity and good clinical responses₉. Most of these CD8+ T cell responses showed very good specificity toward the mutated epitope compared to the native epitope, represented a high proportion of circulating T cells, and induced cells that were more abundant and active than CD8+ T cells in the same patients directed toward over-expressed native antigens.

Three studies in humans have directly assessed the immunotherapeutic potential of mutated antigens. Purified rearranged immunoglobulin expressed by malignant B cells in follicular lymphoma has been used as vaccine and has led to good clinical outcomes in some phase 2 and phase 3 studies (possibly dependent on amounts of residual disease)₆₁. More recently, a mix of peptides corresponding to the oncogenic proteins of HPV (directly analogous to the neoORF type of mutation) has been shown to result in significant remission of premalignant lesions induced by HPV_20-22. Finally, a mutated form of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) commonly found in glioblastoma patients has been used as an immunogen in multiple early clinical trials.₆₂ Interestingly, evidence for down-regulation of this mutated gene has been found, suggesting immune editing due to immune pressure induced by the vaccine.₂₄ Thus, in animals and in humans, immune responses to both discrete mutated antigens (such as missense mutations) and expansive novel antigen (neoORF) are observationally correlated with regression and long-term remission and, in three clinical studies, have been shown to control disease following therapeutic vaccination. The direct and comprehensive identification of the many mutated epitopes found in cancer genomes creates the opportunity to use this class of immunogen to improve the immune response and efficacy of cancer vaccines.

Ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA4 specific IgG1 monoclonal antibody, blocks a key regulatory pathway that dampens both de novo and memory T-cell responses following antigen activation and has been demonstrated to improve overall survival as monotherapy in patients with advanced melanoma₅₆. Furthermore, antibodies targeting the PD-1 pathway (another immune checkpoint) have demonstrated impressive anti-tumor activity in multiple cancer types_{57,5858,63-65} and the combination of CTLA-4 and PD-1 pathway blockade showed apparent synergy in advanced melanoma_63,64 and most recently in ccRCC (Hammers et al, ASCO 2014 Abstract #4504). Despite this success, the lack of coincident immune stimulation with an effective vaccine may limit the maximal impact of such therapy.

Many studies in animals have shown that combining anti-CTLA4 treatment with a vaccine can substantially augment efficacy_66-68 and anecdotal information suggests a similar effect in humans_69,70. This potential synergy may depend critically on the antigen as the most dramatic effects of the combination in animals and the effects in humans have typically been observed with complex vaccines such as autologous cellular vaccines and not with an individual tumor-associated antigen (such as gp100 for melanoma). Autologous tumor cell vaccines 69 contain both neoantigens and tumor-associated antigens. NeoVax, by focusing the immune system on neoantigens, presumably the most immunogenic subset of possible antigens, is expected to strengthen and focus the immune response to the tumor, thereby generating more robust clinical activity. Reciprocally, checkpoint blockade during vaccination may increase the breadth and the magnitude of the response to NeoVax and increase memory cell formation. Recently, neoantigen-specific T-cells were observed in an Ipilimumab-treated patient prior to treatment initiation and increased following therapy₇₁.

An innovative aspect of the study is the route of delivery of Ipilimumab. There are real concerns regarding the toxicity profile of intravenously delivered Ipilimumab, the approved delivery route for metastatic disease. For this reason, the study design includes delivery of Ipilimumab “locally” by sub-cutaneous injection in proximity to the vaccination site during each vaccine dosing. Large proteins like Ipilimumab enter the circulation following sub-cutaneous injection by transit through the lymphatics and draining lymph nodes₇₂. Thus, it is expected that this approach can target Ipilimumab to the same draining lymph node as the vaccine and reduce systemic exposure, thereby both maximizing effectiveness and limiting systemic toxicity of Ipilimumab. Multiple animal studies have shown that localized dosing of anti-CTLA4 is effective. The modes of localized dosing have included: (i) local production of anti-CTLA4 from the irradiated tumor cell being used as vaccine₇₃, (ii) “in transit” delivery of anti-CTLA4 between the tumor (antigen source) and the local draining lymph node₇₄, and (iii) direct intra-tumoral injection of anti-CTLA4₇₅. Anti-tumor activity with localized administration from irradiated anti-CTLA4 expressing tumor cells was reduced compared to systemic administration, but it was equal or better with “in transit” delivery and with direct intra-tumoral injection. Of note, an abscopal effect was observed, wherein injection of anti-CTLA4 antibody near to or into a tumor on one flank of the animal resulted in elimination of the tumor on the opposite flank 74.75 indicating a systemic treatment effect.

Described herein is a study design combining a personalized neoantigen cancer vaccine with Ipilimumab to treat high-risk renal cell carcinoma (see FIG. 11). The study is an open label, phase I trial in which patients with clear ccRCC (both fully resected but high risk patients as well as patients with low or intermediate risk metastatic disease) is immunized with up to 20 peptides that are both specific to the participant's tumor cells (i.e.—not found in their normal cells) and unique to the participant (i.e.—“personal”) and concurrently receive Ipilimumab in close proximity to the vaccine site. These peptides are encoded by missense mutations, in-frame gene fusions and novel open reading frame mutations (collectively known as “neoantigens”) that have occurred within that participant's tumor cells and are identified through DNA and RNA sequencing. Up to 20 peptides at least ˜20 amino acids in length is prepared for each participant and is administered together with the immune adjuvant polyinosinic-polycytidylic (poly-IC) stabilized with poly-L-lysine and carboxymethylcellulose (poly-ICLC)(Hiltonol®). Thus, the personalized NeoAntigen Cancer Vaccine consists of peptides+poly-ICLC and is termed “NeoVax”. Ipilimumab is an antibody against CTLA4, a molecule on the surface of T cells that limits T cell expansion, and has been approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma (Yervoy®). Ipilimumab is delivered via subcutaneous injection in proximity to each vaccination site in order to 1) direct anti-CTLA4 activity to the vaccine-draining lymph nodes and 2) limit systemic toxic effects. This approach is effective in animal tumor models and is expected to result in significantly reduced levels of systemic Ipilimumab compared to the approved dose/schedule in advanced melanoma (3 mg/kg q3wks for four doses).

Eligible patients are entered into the trial to undergo surgery with the intent to resect the primary kidney tumor or a metastatic site. Patients who have undergone surgery, fulfill eligibility criteria, and for whom sufficient tissue was obtained to prepare nucleic acid for sequencing can continue onto the treatment phase of the trial.

The study is conducted in two parts. In the first part (10 patients) the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is identified from three possible dose levels. In the second part, 10 additional patients are enrolled at the MTD to extend the safety and activity analysis of the NeoVax cancer vaccine given in combination with locally administered ipilimumab.

Five patients are entered for the initial safety evaluation (Cohort 1). If none or only 1 patient experiences a DLT during the first 7 weeks of treatment of Cohort 1, 5 patients are entered to Cohort 2. If two or more patients in Cohort 1 experience dose limiting toxicity (DLT) during the first 7 weeks of treatment, then 5 patients are entered on Cohort-1.

If none or only 1 patient experiences a DLT on Cohort 2, then Dose Level 2 is the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and an additional 10 patients are entered at that dose level to increase the likelihood of detecting serious toxicities, to complete biologic correlative endpoints and to gain preliminary experience with clinical tumor activity. If two or more patients in Cohort 2 experience dose limiting toxicity (DLT), then Dose Level 1 is the MTD and an additional 10 patients are treated at this dose.

If none or only 1 patient experiences a DLT on Cohort-1, then Dose Level-1 is the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and an additional 10 patients are entered at that dose level. If two or more patients in Cohort 2 experience dose limiting toxicity (DLT), then the study is stopped.

GMP peptides are prepared by synthetic chemistry, purified by Reverse Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC), mixed in small groups and combined with the immune adjuvant poly-ICLC, a stabilized double-stranded RNA. The mixtures of peptides and poly-ICLC is used for vaccination with the intention to induce cellular immune responses directed at these patient/tumor specific mutations. Each participant can receive the full complement of peptides at each immunization.

The induction of a neoantigen-specific T cell response following vaccination with NeoVax and simultaneous treatment with locally delivered Ipilimumab is assessed by IFN-γ ELISPOT and/or tetramer analysis. Comparison is made between samples taken prior to vaccine administration and after vaccination, beginning 4 weeks after the last priming dose. Assays are conducted for all 10 patients in the expansion cohort only.

IFN-γ secretion occurs as a result of the recognition of cognate peptides or mitogenic stimuli by CD4+ and/or CD8+ T-cells. A multitude of different CD4+ and CD8+ determinants can be presented to T cells in vivo since the 20-30-mer peptides used for vaccination should undergo processing into smaller peptides by antigen presenting cells. Patients are evaluated using the predicted epitope short peptides as well as longer peptides which require proteasomal processing as stimulant in the IFN-γ ELISPOT assay. If warranted, the precise immunogenic peptide(s) is determined in follow-up analyses.

When feasible, HLA-tetramers are prepared for one or more epitopes and is used for cell staining and flow cytometry to independently evaluate the level of responding T cells.

In addition to the analysis of the magnitude and determinant mapping of the T cell response in peripheral blood, other aspects of the immune response induced by the vaccine are critical and is assessed. These evaluations are performed in patients who exhibit an ex vivo IFN-γ ELISPOT or tetramer response in the screening assay. They include the evaluation of T cell subsets (Th1 versus Th2, T effector versus memory cells), analysis of the presence and abundance of regulatory cells such as T regulatory cells or myeloid derived suppressor cells, and patient-specific tumor cell recognition. Finally, through targeted deep sequencing of the Vβ subfamily of the T cell receptor in peripheral blood samples collected before and after vaccination or in TIL populations, the global changes in TCR repertoire as well as changes in the abundance of individual T cell clones are determined.

After adequate tumor for pathological assessment has been harvested, remaining tumor tissue is placed in sterile media in a sterile container and transferred for immediate freezing or is used for disaggregation. Portions of the tumor tissue is used for whole-exome and transcriptome sequencing. If single cells are prepared, a cell line may be initiated. Additionally, tumor infiltrating lymphocyte is prepared from the single cell suspension. In the event that sequence analysis yields no results or sub-optimal results, tumor cell line cells may be used to prepare additional nucleic acid for sequencing. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a blood draw is utilized for a normal tissue sample.

Nucleic acid is extracted from the tissue samples and sequencing is conducted at the CLIA-certified laboratory at Broad Institute. For tumor and normal DNA samples, whole exome capture is conducted prior to sequencing on Illumina HiSeq. For tumor RNA, a cDNA library is prepared on poly-A selected RNA prior to sequencing on Illumina HiSeq. If the quantity or quality of DNA or RNA isolated from the tissue sample is inadequate for exome or cDNA library preparation and sequencing, then DNA or RNA may be extracted from the patient-specific tumor cell line (if generated).

Twenty to forty mutations for each participant is used to design peptides, each approximately 20-30 amino acids in length. Analysis of mutations is limited to comparison of normal and tumor sequence information for each participant.

GMP peptides are synthesized by standard solid phase synthetic peptide chemistry and purified by RP-HPLC. Each individual peptide is analyzed by a variety of qualified assays to assess appearance (visual), purity (RP-HPLC), identity (by mass spectrometry), quantity (elemental nitrogen), and trifluoro-acetate counterion (RP-HPLC) and released. This work is performed by CS Bio, Menlo Park, Calif. Synthesis are initiated with up to 25 peptides if possible so that additional peptides are immediately available for replacement of insoluble peptides if needed.

It is intended to immunize patients with as many peptides as possible, up to a maximum of 20. Peptides are mixed together in 4 pools of up to 5 peptides each. The selection criteria for each pool is based on the particular MHC allele to which the peptide is predicted to bind. Peptides predicted to bind to the same MHC allele is placed into separate pools whenever possible in order to limit antigenic competition. Some of the neoORF peptides may not be predicted to bind to any MHC allele of the patient. These peptides can still be utilized however, primarily because they are completely novel and therefore not subject to the immune-dampening effects of central tolerance, thus having a high probability of being immunogenic. NeoORF peptides also carry a dramatically reduced potential for autoimmunity as there is no equivalent molecule in any normal cell. In addition, there can be false negatives arising from the prediction algorithm and it is possible that the peptide can contain a HLA class II epitope (HLA class II epitopes are not reliably predicted based on current algorithms). All peptides not identified with a particular HLA allele is randomly assigned to the individual pools.

The peptide pools are prepared. The amounts of each peptide are predicated on a final dose of 300 μg of each peptide per injection. The peptide pools are prepared by dissolving appropriate quantities of each peptide individually at high concentration (approximately 50 mg/ml) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dilution with 5% dextrose in water (DSW)/5 mM succinate to a final concentration of 2 mg/ml. Any peptides that do not demonstrate clear solutions upon dilution is discarded and replaced with another peptide if available; if no additional peptides are available, D5W/succinate will be used. Equal quantities of each of 5 peptides can then be admixed, effectively diluting each peptide to a concentration of 400 μg/ml. The bioburden in the pooled peptides are reduced by filtration through a 0.2 μm sterilizing filter. The pooled and filtered bulk is filter sterilized in a laminar flow biosafety cabinet and aliquoted into 2 ml Nunc cryo individual dosing vials for storage. Each pool is tested by RP-HPLC for identity, residual solvents (by gas-chromatography), sterility and endotoxin. Individual dosing vials are stored frozen at −80° C.

The standard and approved 10 ml vial (5 mg Ipilimumab/ml) is utilized for this clinical study. No additional preparation is required.

Preparation of the final NeoVax product and syringes containing Ipilimumab is begun upon confirmation that the patient is medically cleared to undergo vaccine administration (confirmed arrival in the clinic, stable vital signs, no new acute medical issues or laboratory abnormalities potentially interfering with vaccine administration).

The final step in the preparation of NeoVax (mixing with poly-ICLC) is conducted on the day of the scheduled vaccine administration. For each patient, four distinct pools (labeled “A”, “B”, “C” and “D”) of up to 5 synthetic peptides each can be prepared at the GMP peptide manufacturer and filter sterilized as described in detail and stored at −80° C.

On the day of immunization, the complete vaccine consisting of the peptide component(s) and poly-ICLC is prepared in a laminar flow biosafety cabinet. One vial each (A, B, C and D) is thawed at room temperature in a biosafety cabinet. 0.75 ml of each peptide pool is withdrawn from the vial into separate syringes. Separately, four 0.25 ml (0.5 mg) aliquots of poly-ICLC is withdrawn into separate syringes. The contents of each peptide-pool containing syringe can then be gently mixed with a 0.25 ml aliquot of poly-ICLC by syringe-to-syringe transfer. The entire one ml of the mixture is used for injection.

These four preparations are labeled “NeoVax A”, “NeoVax B”, “NeoVax C”, “NeoVax D”. The total dose of NeoVax can consist of the four 1 ml syringes each containing 1 ml of the peptide pool+poly-ICLC mixtures.

On each dosing day, a single 10 ml vial containing 5 mg/ml Ipilimumab is used to prepare 4 syringes, each containing 0.25 ml (Cohort-1), 0.5 ml (Cohort 1) or 1 ml (Cohort 2).

Vaccine is administered following a prime/boost schedule. Priming doses of vaccine is administered on days 1, 4, 8, 15, and 22 as shown herein and (FIG. 12). In the boost phase, vaccine is administered on days 78 (week 12) and 162 (week 20).

Each of the 4 NeoVax and Ipilimumab syringes is assigned to one of four extremities. At each immunization, each NeoVax syringe is administered s.c. to the assigned extremity (i.e. NeoVax A is injected into left arm on day 1, 4, 8 etc., NeoVax B is injected into right arm on days 1, 4, 8 etc.). Alternative anatomical locations for patients who are status post complete axillary or inguinal lymph node dissection or other contraindications that prevent injections to a particular extremity are the left and right midriff, respectively.

Immediately following NeoVax administration at a respective extremity (or alternative anatomical location), Ipilimumab is injected within 1 cm of each NeoVax administration.

NeoVax and Ipilimumab may be administered within 1 day of the scheduled administration date for days 4 and 8, within 3 days of the scheduled administration date for days 15 and 22 (but must be at least 5 days apart) and within 7 days for days 78 and 162.

Five patients are entered for the initial safety evaluation (Cohort 1). If none or only 1 patient experiences a DLT during the first 7 weeks of treatment of Cohort 1, 5 patients are entered to Cohort 2. If two or more patients in Cohort 1 experience dose limiting toxicity (DLT) during the first 7 weeks of treatment, then 5 patients are entered on Cohort-1.

If none or only 1 patient experiences a DLT on Cohort 2, then Dose Level 2 is the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and an additional 10 patients are entered at that dose level to increase the likelihood of detecting serious toxicities, to complete biologic correlative endpoints and to gain preliminary experience with clinical tumor activity. If two or more patients in Cohort 2 experience dose limiting toxicity (DLT), then Dose Level 1 is the MTD and an additional 10 patients are treated at this dose.

If none or only 1 patient experiences a DLT on Cohort-1, then Dose Level-1 is the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and an additional 10 patients are entered at that dose level.

If two or more patients in Cohort 2 experience dose limiting toxicity (DLT), then the study is stopped.

Having thus described in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention defined by the above paragraphs is not to be limited to particular details set forth in the above description as many apparent variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.