# How a Specific Protein Fragment Can Train Immune Cells to Fight Cancer > This patent describes methods to fight various cancers by using a specific protein fragment (peptide LYHDIFSRL) to train a patient's immune cells to recognize and attack tumor cells. - **Patent:** US 10314897 - **Original title:** Peptides and combination of peptides for use in immunotherapy against various cancers - **Owner:** Immatics Biotechnologies - **Granted:** 2019 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 4 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical, immunotherapy, oncology, gene_editing ## What it does This patent describes two main ways to use a specific protein fragment, called a peptide, to fight cancer. One method (Claim 1) involves taking T cells from a patient or a donor, activating them in the lab to recognize a specific peptide called LYHDIFSRL (SEQ ID NO: 271) when it's displayed on cancer cells by an MHC molecule, and then giving these activated T cells back to the patient. These trained T cells then seek out and kill cancer cells that display this peptide. The patent lists many cancers that can be treated this way, including glioblastoma, breast cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. The second method (Claim 19) involves directly administering a composition containing the LYHDIFSRL peptide to the patient. This peptide then teaches the patient's own immune system to create T cells that can recognize and attack the cancer cells. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover methods using different peptides or protein fragments other than LYHDIFSRL (SEQ ID NO: 271) to elicit an immune response against cancer. - Does not cover immunotherapies for cancer types not explicitly listed in the claims, such as certain rare cancers or pediatric cancers. - Does not cover general cancer treatments that do not involve T cells or the specific peptide-MHC interaction described. - Does not cover preventative cancer vaccines that aim to stop cancer from forming in the first place, only treatments for existing cancer. - Does not cover T-cell therapies that target cancer cells through mechanisms entirely different from recognizing a peptide presented by an MHC molecule. ## The clever bit The clever part is the identification of a specific, short protein fragment (the LYHDIFSRL peptide) that is consistently displayed on the surface of many different types of cancer cells, allowing the immune system to recognize and target them. This provides a universal 'flag' for T cells to attack a broad spectrum of tumors. ## Real-world examples 1. T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T-cell therapies 2. Peptide-based cancer vaccines 3. Adoptive cell therapies for solid tumors 4. Immunotherapy treatments for glioblastoma 5. Immunotherapy treatments for non-small cell lung cancer ## Why it matters This patent is important because it identifies a specific target, the LYHDIFSRL peptide, that can be used to direct the immune system against a wide range of cancers. This approach, known as immunotherapy, aims to harness the body's natural defenses to fight disease, potentially offering more precise and less toxic treatments than traditional chemotherapy. By focusing on specific tumor-associated peptides, it advances the field of personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to the unique characteristics of a patient's cancer. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How a Specific Protein Fragment Can Train Immune Cells to Fight Cancer cover? This patent describes methods to fight various cancers by using a specific protein fragment (peptide LYHDIFSRL) to train a patient's immune cells to recognize and attack tumor cells. ### Who owns patent US 10314897? Immatics Biotechnologies owns this patent, granted in 2019. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on August 21, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 10314897 cited by? This patent has been cited by 4 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent is important because it identifies a specific target, the LYHDIFSRL peptide, that can be used to direct the immune system against a wide range of cancers. This approach, known as immunotherapy, aims to harness the body's natural defenses to fight disease, potentially offering more precise and less toxic treatments than traditional chemotherapy. By focusing on specific tumor-associated peptides, it advances the field of personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to the unique characteristics of a patient's cancer. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover methods using different peptides or protein fragments other than LYHDIFSRL (SEQ ID NO: 271) to elicit an immune response against cancer. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10314897/peptides-and-combination-of-peptides-for-use-in-immunotherapy-against-various-ca **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10314897 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Treating Liver Cancer with Specially Trained Immune Cells](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12168044/peptides-and-combination-of-peptides-for-use-in-immunotherapy-against-non-small-) — This patent describes a method for treating hepatocellular cancer by giving patients specially activated immune cells that are trained to recognize and kill cancer cells displaying a specific protein fragment. - [How Genetically Modified T-Cells Attack Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9328156/use-of-chimeric-antigen-receptor-modified-t-cells-to-treat-cancer) — This patent describes how human T cells are genetically engineered to express a special receptor (CAR) that specifically targets and kills cancer cells, particularly those with the CD19 marker, offering a new way to treat cancer. - [How Genetically Modified T-Cells Fight CD19 Cancers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9481728/compositions-and-methods-for-treatment-of-cancer) — This patent describes how to create and use genetically modified human T cells that target and kill cancer cells expressing the CD19 protein, offering a new way to treat blood cancers. - [How an mRNA Vaccine Targets Prostate Cancer with Six Antigens](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20160166668/composition-and-vaccine-for-treating-prostate-cancer) — This patent describes an mRNA vaccine designed to treat prostate cancer by delivering genetic instructions for a specific combination of six prostate-related proteins, teaching the body to fight the cancer. - [How to Build Smaller, Synthetic Antibody-Like Molecules for Medicine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5455030/immunotheraphy-using-single-chain-polypeptide-binding-molecules) — This patent describes a way to create small, single-chain proteins that mimic the binding power of full-sized antibodies to deliver medicine more effectively.