Immunological evaluation of vaccination of peptides derived from epithelial cancer-related antigens in two patients with hematological malignancy.

Recent advances in tumor immunology have resulted in identification of many epithelial cancer-related antigens and peptides applicable to specific immunotherapy. We and others have reported that several epithelial cancer-related antigens are also expressed in hematological malignancies. Two patients with hematological malignancy (multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia) were vaccinated with peptides derived from epithelial cancer-related antigens to evaluate the immune responses to peptides under a personalized peptide vaccination regimen.