Epitope selection and development of peptide based vaccines to treat cancer

Abstract

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognize peptides that associate with class I major histocompatibility complex molecules. Since cytotoxic T cells have the capacity to recognize and destroy tumor cells, identification of epitopes recognized by these cells in tumor-associated antigens would allow the production of compounds for the treatment of cancer. Here we review some of the approaches being explored to identify tumor-associated antigens and to develop peptide-based vaccines that induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes against specific tumors.