Definition

A cancer vaccine containing two HLA-A*2402-restricted peptide epitopes with potential immunostimulatory and antitumor activities. Peptide epitopes in this vaccine are derived from vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) 1 and 2. Upon administration, this peptide vaccine may stimulate a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against VEGFR1- and VEGFR2-expressing tumor cells, resulting in tumor cell lysis and decreased tumor growth. HLA-A*2402 is an MHC class I molecule that presents antigenic peptides to CD8+ T cells; epitope design restricted to epitopes that bind most efficiently to HLA-A*2402 may improve antigenic peptide immunogenicity.