>>J Immunol Methods. 2003 Jul;278(1-2):95-104.
Individualized human scFv vaccines produced in plants: humoral anti-idiotype responses in vaccinated mice confirm relevance to the tumor Ig.
McCormick AA, Reinl SJ, Cameron TI, Vojdani F, Fronefield M, Levy R, Tuse D.
Large Scale Biology Corporation, Vacaville, CA 95688, USA. alison.mccormick@lsbc.com
We have developed a method for rapidly producing in plants the idiotype regions of the tumor-specific Ig as single-chain Fv (scFv) proteins for use in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Variable region gene sequences were generated from either a tumor hybridoma or human tumor biopsy cells, and idiotype domains were joined by a novel linker and cloned into a modified tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) vector designed to secrete the scFv protein in infected Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Thirty-eight out of 44 human scFv proteins showed Coomassie visible material in crude secretory (interstitial fluid, IF) extracts, 21 of those between 100 and 800 microg/ml. Eight of these proteins were tested for appropriate idiotype responses in vaccinated mice. In all eight cases, anti-idiotype immune responses were induced with minimal cross reactivity to irrelevant Ig or scFv proteins. Four out of four anti-scFv sera were also shown to recognize the Ig on human tumor cells by flow cytometry analysis.<<
A long time ago, you mentioned Levy in association with Genitope, now public (GTOP). It sure looks as though they are treading the same path. Personalized lymphoma vaccines with a rapid production technology -- but Genitope doesn't use plants. Looking at what became of LSBC -- and assuming GTOP is of similar financial structure (though with a more focused business model) -- I'm thinking GTOP is likely a prime short candidate. GTOP looks a bit farther ahead in clinical development, having commenced their PIII.
Cheers, Tuck |
