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CD4⁺ T-Cell Immunity to Mutated ras Protein in Pancreatic and Colon Cancer Patients¹

Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine [H. Q., W. C., M. T., M. L., D., M. A. C.] and Surgery [D. R. B., L. M.], University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195; Hematology/Oncology Service, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington 98431 [K. A. B.]; Biological Response Modifiers Program, National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Frederick, Maryland 21702 [R. G. F.]; and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Loyola University, Maywood, Illinois 60153 [D. J. P.]

Mutated p21 ras proteins contain single substituted amino acid residues and represent cancer-specific proteins. The current study examined whether primed T cell immunity to mutant p21 ras proteins and/or peptides can be detected in patients with pancreatic or colon cancer. Studies focused on the aspartic acid substitution in amino acid position 12 (denoted D12) as the commonest mutation in gastrointestinal malignancy. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients or normal individuals were tested for the ability to proliferate in response to normal or mutated ras peptides or proteins. T-cell responses were defined as a stimulation index of >2.0. Results showed that 7 of 16 (44%) pancreatic cancer patients responded to ras-D12 peptide. Responses to ras-D12 peptides. Three of the 4 patients that responded to ras-D12 peptide showed a substantial response to p21 ras-D12 protein (stimulation indices of 12, 8, and 24). Specificity was validated by examining responses to normal and alternate ras peptides and proteins. T-cell responses to ras-D12 peptides were detected in only 2 of 25 (8%) colon cancer patients. None of 11 normal individuals tested had positive responses to normal or mutant ras p21 proteins and/or peptides. Thus, CD4⁺ T-cell immunity to the mutated segment of ras protein is present in some patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

¹ This work was supported by Grants CA54561 and CA30558 from the National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Division of Oncology, BB1321 Health Sciences Building, University of Washington, Box 356527, Seattle, WA 98195.

Received 4/17/95. Accepted 6/ 2/95.

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