Identification of CDCA1-derived long peptides bearing both CD4 super(+) and CD8 super(+) T-cell epitopes: CDCA1-specific CD4 super(+) T-cell immunity in cancer patients

We recently identified a novel cancer-testis antigen, cell division cycle associated 1 (CDCA1) using genome-wide cDNA microarray analysis, and CDCA1-derived cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-epitopes. In this study, we attempted to identify CDCA1-derived long peptides (LPs) that induce both CD4 super(+) helper T (Th) cells and CTLs. We combined information from a recently developed computer algorithm predicting HLA class II-binding peptides with CDCA1-derived CTL-epitope sequences presented by HLA-A2 (A*02:01) or HLA-A24 (A*24:02) to select candidate CDCA1-LPs encompassing both Th cell epitopes and CTL-epitopes. We studied the immunogenicity of CDCA1-LPs and the cross-priming potential of LPs bearing CTL-epitopes in both human in vitro and HLA-class I transgenic mice in vivo. Then we analyzed the Th cell response to CDCA1 in head-and-neck cancer (HNC) patients before and after vaccination with a CDCA1-derived CTL-epitope peptide using IFN-[gamma] enzyme-linked immunospot assays. We identified two CDCA1-LPs, CDCA1 sub(39-64)-LP and CDCA1 sub(55-78)-LP, which encompass naturally processed epitopes recognized by Th cells and CTLs. CDCA1-specific CTLs were induced through cross-presentation of CDCA1-LPs in vitro and in vivo. In addition, CDCA1-specific Th cells enhanced induction of CDCA1-specific CTLs. Furthermore, significant frequencies of CDCA1-specific Th cell responses were detected after short-term in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with CDCA1-LPs in HNC patients (CDCA1 sub(39-64)-LP, 74%; CDCA1 sub(55-78)-LP, 68%), but not in healthy donors. These are the first results demonstrating the presence of CDCA1-specific Th cell responses in HNC patients and underline the possible utility of CDCA1-LPs for propagation of both CDCA1-specific Th cells and CTLs. What's new? Tumor immunotherapy often focuses on the induction of cancer-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTLs). However, T helper cells (Th1) play a critical role in the efficient and long-lasting induction of functional antitumor CTLs. Here, the authors describe two new peptides derived from the cell division cycle associated 1 (CDCA1) tumor antigen that are efficient in stimulating both a Th1 and a CTL response through cross-presentation. The two peptides, CDCA1 sub(39-64)-LP and CDCA1 sub(55-78)-LP are longer than conventionally used vaccination peptides and elicited efficient T cell responses after in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from head and