EPITOPE SELECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PEPTIDE-BASED VACCINES TO TREAT CANCER

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