Definition

An mRNA-based, personalized cancer vaccine consisting of total tumor RNA (TTRNA) derived and amplified from autologous tumor cells and mRNA encoding the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) matrix protein pp65 (65 kDa lower matrix phosphoprotein; UL83) as a fusion protein with the full-length lysosome-associated membrane protein (flLAMP), formulated in DOTAP lipid particles, with potential immunostimulatory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration of the autologous total tumor mRNA and CMV-pp65-flLAMP mRNA loaded liposome vaccine, the mRNA is taken up, translated and presented by antigen presenting cells (APCs). This leads to an induction of both cytotoxic T-lymphocyte and memory T-cell dependent immune responses that specifically target and destroy the patient’s cancer cells that express these tumor antigens. The incorporation of flLAMP may route CMV pp-65 antigens into the lysosomal compartment, resulting in enhanced MHC class II antigen presentation, thereby promoting CD4-positive T-cell responses. The CMV pp65 protein is the primary component of the enveloped subviral particle of CMV and is expressed in certain tumor types.