Pramod K. Srivastava, PhD, MD, Esfandiar Lohrasbpour CLIP Investigator University of Connecticut Dr. Srivastava proposes to create a library of cancer vaccines that are shared between cancers, do not have to be customized for each tumor, and can be used for immunotherapy of any cancers with mutated p53, seen in approximately 50% of the cancer patients of most types. The scientific basis of these vaccines lies in the fact that cancer cells which lack the p53 protein, when exposed to some common chemotherapies, develop defects and form aberrant proteins. Since these aberrant proteins are only made in cancer cells (which are the only cells that are p53-deficient), and are new to the body, the immune system can be trained to see them as foreign. They can therefore serve as cancer vaccines which should have no toxicities and should only kill cancer cells. If successful, these cancer vaccines will prevent or delay recurrences of cancers. Dr. Srivastava envisages that this library of off the shelf vaccines can be used to immunize patients before they start chemotherapy. Strong preliminary data in support of the proposal are shown. The results from this study will set the stage for a phase 1 trial where patients will be immunized with chemo-neoepitope vaccines after surgery and before initiation of platimum-based chemotherapy. Projects and Grants A shared neoepitope cancer vaccine against p53-deficient cancers Georgetown University | All Cancers | 2022
