Composition and method for inducing and enhancing a telomerase reverse transcriptase-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocyte response

Patent Number: 7,388,071

Telomerase is an enzymatic complex that repairs the telomeric ends of chromosomes so as to allow certain cells to escape senescence. Various stem cells, including some adult stem cells, express telomerase. Most importantly, tumors express this complex and it is what allows them to continue proliferating without undergoing senescence.

A very interesting approach to the treatment of cancer is to stimulate the immune system to attack a specific protein that is selectively expressed in tumors but not healthy tissue. Telomerase is one such protein. Currently the company Geron, as well as Pharmexa-Epimmune are in advanced clinical trials with vaccines stimulating immune responses to various components of telomerase.

The current patent is held by one of the leaders of telomerase vaccine research, Dr. Maurizio Zanetti who published in PNAS this approach in April of 2000 (97(9):4796-801). The patent covers 2 peptide sequences that stimulate immunity to telomerase, as well as delivery of the peptides using cells such as dendritic cells.

View this patent on the USPTO website.