Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inducing an immune response against autologous Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in humans. The method comprises effecting uptake by antigen presenting cells of epitopes (preferably all) from the extracellular portion of human EGFR and of at least one non-human T helper epitope (TH epitope) so as to induce antibodies against EGFR. Immunization may be accomplished by protein vaccination, nucleic acid vaccination and live or viral vaccination. The immune response is useful in treatment of malignancies. Also disclosed are modified EGFR proteins and expression plasmids useful for the immunization method as well as recombinant gene technology tools such as nucleic acids, vectors and host cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides for novel immunogenic variants of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) which are useful in active specific immunotherapy against diseases that are characterized by overexpression of VEGF. The invention also relates to methods of treating such diseases (for instance cancer) as well as to various tools in molecular biology that assist in the provision of the immunogenic variants.