Rational peptide-based tumour vaccine development and T cell monitoring

Antigen-specific vaccination is a promising emerging treatment option for cancer patients. Results from early clinical vaccination trials with tumour peptides in patients with metastatic disease have shown tumour regressions in few patients usually with limited disease. Current clinical studies focus on the development of more potent vaccination strategies and on the vaccination of patients with occult or small volume metastatic disease. The novel generation of sensitive T-cell assays allowing direct quantitation and characterisation of specific T cells provide an essential tool for further systematic clinical development of vaccine protocols. There is accumulating evidence from clinical cancer vaccination trials of a relation between the induction of specific T cells and clinical efficacy. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.