Definition

A cancer peptide vaccine comprised of the epitope GP2, a nine amino acid peptide (amino acids 654-662) derived from the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) HER2/neu (ErbB-2) and the immune-adjuvant granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), with potential immunomodulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon intradermal administration of the HER2/neu peptide vaccine GLSI-100, GP2 may induce a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated immune response against tumor cells expressing the HER2/neu antigen, which may result in the inhibition of proliferation of HER2/neu-expressing tumor cells. HER2/neu, a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family of tyrosine kinases, is overexpressed in various tumor cell types. GM-CSF enhances the CTL-mediated immune response against HER2/neu.