UCPVax, a CD4 helper peptide vaccine, induces polyfunctional Th1 cells, antibody response, and epitope spreading to improve antitumor immunity.

Fiche publication

Date publication

juin 2025

Journal

Cell reports. Medicine

Auteurs

Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Pr ADOTEVI Olivier , Pr BORG Christophe , Pr GHIRINGHELLI François , Dr GODET Yann , Mme JACQUIN Marion , Mme LAHEURTE Caroline , Dr VERNEREY Dewi , Dr LOYON Romain , Mme MEURISSE Aurélia

Tous les auteurs :
Laheurte C, Boullerot L, Ndao B, Malfroy M, Queiroz L, Guillaume P, Loyon R, Seffar E, Gravelin E, Renaudin A, Jacquin M, Meurisse A, Vernerey D, Ghiringhelli F, Godet Y, Genoley R, Jandus C, Borg C, Adotévi O

Lien Pubmed

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/40543509

Résumé

The induction of an antitumor CD4 T helper response is essential for the efficacy of therapeutic cancer vaccines. However, few vaccines are specifically designed to target CD4 T cells in human cancers. Here, we characterize the immune mechanisms of UCPVax, a helper peptide vaccine derived from telomerase. Ex vivo immune profiling of peripheral blood from 60 patients with advanced lung cancer reveals that UCPVax selectively activates CD4 T cells in vivo across a broad HLA-DR restriction. The vaccine elicits a synergistic immune triad, including cytokine polyfunctional CD4 Th1 cells, epitope spreading, and antibody response, contributing to effective tumor control. Single-cell analysis further demonstrates that UCPVax drives CD4 T cells toward effector memory and cytolytic differentiation. Thus, vaccine-induced CD4 T cells trigger broad and durable antitumor immunity. These findings highlight UCPVax as an off-the-shelf helper platform to enhance therapeutic cancer vaccine efficacy. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02818426.