INVESTIGATION OF A SYNTHETIC PEPTIDE AS IMMUNOGEN FOR A VARIANT EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR-ASSOCIATED WITH GLIOMAS

We have previously demonstrated antibody production to a glioma-associ ated variant form of the human epidermal growth factor receptor in rab bits that had received a synthetic peptide mimicking the unique primar y structure of the variant protein as immunogen. We report here the re sponse of mice, rabbits, goats, and macaques immunized by various prot ocols to this peptide. Titers to both peptide- and cell-elaborated var iant receptor were measured, and the capacity to recognize the variant receptor in human tumor samples was determined. Within the range of s pecies and strains investigated, we demonstrated a variable species-as sociated response to the peptide (rabbits > mice > goats > rats > maca ques). Rabbits and a single goat produced specific, high titer antibod y activity to the variant receptor protein following immunization with peptide alone. Murine titers to the parent protein were not appreciab le following peptide immunization alone; additional immunization with variant receptor as expressed on cell membranes was used to boost this response.