Agent for generating antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells, useful in active or passive immunotherapy of cancer, comprises tumor cells loaded with peptide antigen

摘要

An agent (A) that induces, in presence of cytokines, proliferation and/or maturation of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in a population of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, is new. The CTL are directed against at least one antigen expressed by a target, especially tumor, cell. An agent (A) that induces, in presence of cytokines, proliferation and/or maturation of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in a population of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, is new. The CTL are directed against at least one antigen expressed by a target, especially tumor, cell. (A) consists of tumor cells that: (a) express at least one MHC (major histocompatibility complex) molecule; and (b) are loaded with peptide antigen (PAg) that functions as Ag and has good affinity and avidity for T cells. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) therapeutic compositions and vaccines containing (A); in vitro stimulation of the growth or maturation of specific CTL using (A); and (2) Ag-specific CTL produced by the method of (2).