Using Specific Immune Cells to Fight Cancers Like Lung and Breast Cancer

This patent describes a method to treat specific cancers, including lung, breast, and ovarian cancer, by giving patients their own immune cells (T cells) that have been trained to recognize and destroy cancer cells presenting a unique protein fragment.

What it covers

The patent describes a way to treat certain cancers by boosting a patient's own immune system. Specifically, it involves giving a patient a group of "activated T cells" (a type of white blood cell) that are specially trained to kill cancer cells (Claim 1). These T cells target cancer cells that display a particular protein fragment, or "peptide," with the amino acid sequence TLHDQVHLL (SEQ ID NO: 264) on their surface. The patent lists various cancers that can be treated this way, such as non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma (Claim 1). The T cells are activated outside the body by showing them this specific peptide attached to a "MHC class I molecule" on another cell, which teaches them what to look for (Claim 2). For example, a doctor might take a patient's T cells, train them in a lab to recognize the TLHDQVHLL peptide, and then infuse these super-charged T cells back into the patient to fight their specific cancer.

What it doesn't cover

• —Treating cancers that do not present the specific peptide TLHDQVHLL (SEQ ID NO: 264) on their cell surface.
• —Immunotherapy methods that do not involve administering activated T cells (e.g., traditional chemotherapy or radiation).
• —Activating T cells inside the body without first contacting them with an antigen-presenting cell expressing the peptide with an MHC class I molecule outside the body, as described in Claim 2.
• —Using different peptides or protein fragments to identify and target cancer cells.
• —Treating cancer types not explicitly listed in Claim 1, such as colon cancer or pancreatic cancer.
• —Methods that use antibodies or soluble T-cell receptors as the primary therapeutic agent, rather than activated T cells.

The clever bit

The novelty lies in identifying a very specific nine-amino-acid peptide, TLHDQVHLL (SEQ ID NO: 264), that is presented by certain cancer cells and can be used to specifically train and activate T cells to target and kill those cancer cells. This precise targeting mechanism allows for a highly focused immune response.

Why it matters

This patent is significant in the field of cancer immunotherapy, which aims to harness the body's immune system to fight cancer. By identifying specific "tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes," like TLHDQVHLL, it provides a precise target for immune cells. This approach can lead to highly targeted therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers, potentially reducing side effects compared to broader treatments. Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, the assignee, is a company focused on developing T-cell receptor (TCR) based immunotherapies for various solid tumors.

Real-world examples

• 1.T-cell receptor (TCR) therapy for solid tumors
• 2.Adoptive cell therapy for non-small cell lung cancer
• 3.Immunotherapies targeting specific tumor antigens
• 4.Immatics' clinical programs for various cancers