Definition

A cancer vaccine consisting of recombinant overlapping peptides (ROPs) derived from the anti-apoptosis protein survivin, with potential immunopotentiating and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, survivin-targeted vaccine OVM-200 may stimulate the immune system to mount a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against survivin-expressing tumor cells, resulting in decreased tumor cell proliferation and tumor cell death. The survivin protein inhibits caspase activation and apoptosis; it is undetectable in normal adult tissues but is expressed by several human cancers including lung, colon, breast, pancreas, and prostate cancer as well as hematopoietic malignancies and skin cancers.