A groundbreaking clinical trial has unveiled promising results for TEIPP24, a synthetic long peptide vaccine targeting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This first-in-human, multicenter study focused on patients who exhibited disease progression following checkpoint blockade therapies.
Study Design and Implementation
Conducted across two institutions, the trial enrolled 26 HLA-A*0201-positive NSCLC patients. Utilizing an adapted 3 + 3 dose-escalation approach, participants received varying doses of the TEIPP24 peptide, emulsified in Montanide ISA-51, administered subcutaneously three times every three weeks. An extension cohort explored the combined efficacy of TEIPP24 with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab. The primary objectives centered on assessing the vaccine’s safety, tolerability, and ability to elicit an immune response, while secondary goals evaluated immune specificity, progression-free survival, overall survival, and tumor response rates.
Key Findings and Immune Response
The treatment was well-tolerated, with 83% of evaluable patients developing LRPAP1-specific CD8⁺ T cells, and 62% showing CD4⁺ T cell responses. Factors such as vaccine dosage, the number of administrations, and pre-existing monocytic cell levels influenced the activation of polyfunctional CD8⁺ effector T cells. Notably, combining TEIPP24 with pembrolizumab enhanced the detection of activated LRPAP1-specific CD8⁺ T cells. Clinically, one partial response, eight stable diseases, and two mixed responses were observed, correlating with robust T-cell activation against the targeted cancer antigens.
• TEIPP24 effectively stimulates both CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cell responses in NSCLC patients.
• Higher vaccine doses and multiple administrations enhance immune activation.
• Combining TEIPP24 with pembrolizumab may amplify therapeutic efficacy.
The successful induction of specific T cell responses highlights TEIPP24’s potential as a viable immunotherapeutic option for patients resistant to existing treatments. The synergistic effect observed when combining the vaccine with pembrolizumab suggests a promising avenue for enhancing cancer immunotherapy strategies.
These findings pave the way for further exploration of TEIPP24 in larger, more diverse patient populations. By targeting alternative tumor antigens, this vaccine could overcome resistance mechanisms that limit the effectiveness of current T-cell based therapies. Continued research and clinical trials will be essential to fully establish the vaccine’s role in the battle against non-small cell lung cancer.
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