PD-L1/IDO peptide vaccine IO102-103

A peptide vaccine composed of IO103, a peptide vaccine derived from the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), IO102, the 21-mer peptide vaccine derived from the immunomodulatory enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), and the immunoadjuvant montanide ISA-51, with potential immunomodulating and antineoplastic activities. Vaccination with the PD-L1/IDO peptide vaccine IO102-103 may activate the immune system to induce an immune response against PD-L1 and IDO-expressing cells. This may increase and restore the proliferation and activation of various immune cells, including cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and may eradicate PD-L1 and IDO-expressing tumor cells through a CTL-mediated immune response. PD-L1 is overexpressed on many human cancer cell types. PD-L1 binding to its cognate receptor programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1; PDCD1; CD279) on T cells suppresses the immune system and results in increased immune evasion and decreased CTL activation. IDO, a cytosolic enzyme responsible for tryptophan catabolism and conversion of tryptophan into kynurenine, is overexpressed by a variety of tumor cell types and antigen presenting cells (APCs) and plays an important role in immunosuppression mainly through suppression of CTL activation; tryptophan depletion inhibits T-lymphocyte proliferation and activation, and suppresses the immune system. Montanide ISA-51, also known as incomplete Freund's adjuvant or IFA, is a stabilized water-in-oil emulsion adjuvant containing mineral oil with mannide oleate added as a surfactant that non-specifically stimulates cell-mediated immune responses to antigens.