Abstract: Isolated LY6K-derived epitope peptides having Th1 cell inducibility are disclosed herein. Such peptides can be recognized by MHC class II molecules and induce Th1 cells. In preferred embodiments, such a peptide of the present invention can be promiscuously bind to MHC class II molecules and induce LY6K-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in addition to Th1 cells. Such peptides are thus suitable for use in enhancing immune response in a subject, and accordingly find use in cancer immunotherapy, in particular, as cancer vaccines. Also disclosed herein are polynucleotides that encode any of the aforementioned peptides, APCs and Th1 cells induced by such peptides and methods of induction associated therewith. Pharmaceutical compositions that comprise any of the aforementioned components as active ingredients find use in the treatment and/or prevention of cancers or tumors.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a means for enabling cancer immunotherapy that targets approximately 30% of various cancer patients that highly express forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) among the Japanese, by identifying FOXM1-derived peptides that can activate cancer cell-damaging human killer T cells by binding to HLA-A2. The present invention provides a peptide of (A) or (B) below: (A) a peptide including the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3; (B) a peptide which includes the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3, wherein one, two, or several amino acid(s) are substituted, deleted, inserted, and/or added, and wherein the peptide shows cytotoxic (killer) T cell-inducing activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides oligopeptides comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4 and 5. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition containing the amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4 and 5 formulated for the treatment or prevention of cancer in a subject. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of inducing immune response using such oligopeptides and pharmaceutical agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides oligopeptides comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4 and 5. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition containing the amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4 and 5 formulated for the treatment or prevention of cancer in a subject. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of inducing immune response using such oligopeptides and pharmaceutical agents.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a means for enabling cancer immunotherapy that targets approximately 30% of various cancer patients that highly express forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) among the Japanese, by identifying FOXM1-derived peptides that can activate cancer cell-damaging human killer T cells by binding to HLA-A2. The present invention provides a peptide of (A) or (B) below: (A) a peptide including the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3; (B) a peptide which includes the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3, wherein one, two, or several amino acid(s) are substituted, deleted, inserted, and/or added, and wherein the peptide shows cytotoxic (killer) T cell-inducing activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides the peptide of (A) or (B) below, and methods of using the peptide: (A) a peptide including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, (B) a peptide which includes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, wherein one, two, or several amino acid(s) are substituted, deleted, inserted, and/or added, and wherein the peptide shows killer T cell-inducing activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated peptides or the fragments derived from SEQ ID NO: 18, which bind to an HLA antigen and induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The peptides may include one of the above mentioned amino acid sequences with substitution, deletion, or addition of one, two, or several amino acids sequences. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions including these peptides. The peptides of the present invention can be used for treating cancer.

Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to identify SPARC protein-derived peptides that are able to induce human killer T cells and helper T cells having cytotoxic activity to tumors, and to provide a means for carrying out a tumor immunotherapy of patients with various types of cancers overexpressing SPARC. The present invention provides a peptide of any of the following: (A) a peptide which consists of the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3; or (B) a peptide which consists of an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution or addition of one or several amino acids with respect to the peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3, and which has capacity to induce cytotoxic (killer) T cells.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a means for enabling cancer immunotherapy that targets approximately 30% of various cancer patients that highly express forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) among the Japanese, by identifying FOXM1-derived peptides that can activate cancer cell-damaging human killer T cells by binding to HLA-A2. The present invention provides a peptide of (A) or (B) below: (A) a peptide including the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3; (B) a peptide which includes the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3, wherein one, two, or several amino acid(s) are substituted, deleted, inserted, and/or added, and wherein the peptide shows cytotoxic (killer) T cell-inducing activity.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to identify a glypican-3-derived peptide which can bind to HLA-A2 and activate human killer T cells, so as to provide a means for carrying out an immunotherapy which is able to target approximately 40% of Japanese patients suffering from several types of cancers, which express GPC3 at a high level. The present invention provides a peptide of any of the following (A) or (B): (A) a peptide, which has the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3; or (B) a peptide, which has an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution or addition of one or two amino acids with respect to the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3, and which has ability to induce killer T cells.

Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to identify SPARC protein-derived peptides that are able to induce human killer T cells and helper T cells having cytotoxic activity to tumors, and to provide a means for carrying out a tumor immunotherapy of patients with various types of cancers overexpressing SPARC. The present invention provides a peptide of any of the following: (A) a peptide which consists of the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3; or (B) a peptide which consists of an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution or addition of one or several amino acids with respect to the peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3, and which has capacity to induce cytotoxic (killer) T cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a peptide of the following (A) or (B): (A) a peptide including an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2; (B) a peptide including an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 or 2, wherein one, two, or several amino acid(s) are substituted, deleted, inserted, and/or added, and wherein the peptide has an activity to induce killer T cells.

Abstract: Oligopeptides having cytotoxic T cell inducibility and suitable for use in the context of cancer immunotherapy, more particularly cancer vaccines are described herein. Notable examples include oligopeptides having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5 or 6, wherein 1, 2, or several amino acids are optionally substituted, deleted, inserted or added so long as they retain the cytotoxic T cell inducibility of the original oligopeptides. Pharmaceutical formulations or “drugs” related to such oligopeptides suitable for treating or preventing cancers or tumors, as well as the post-operative recurrence thereof, are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated peptides or the fragments derived from SEQ ID NO: 18, which bind to an HLA antigen and induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The peptides may include one of the above mentioned amino acid sequences with substitution, deletion, or addition of one, two, or several amino acids sequences. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions including these peptides. The peptides of the present invention can be used for treating cancer.

Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to identify SPARC protein-derived peptides that are able to induce human killer T cells and helper T cells having cytotoxic activity to tumors, and to provide a means for carrying out a tumor immunotherapy of patients with various types of cancers overexpressing SPARC. The present invention provides a peptide of any of the following: (A) a peptide which consists of the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3; or (B) a peptide which consists of an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution or addition of one or several amino acids with respect to the peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3, and which has capacity to induce cytotoxic (killer) T cells.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to identify a glypican-3-derived peptide which can bind to HLA-A2 and activate human killer T cells, so as to provide a means for carrying out an immunotherapy which is able to target approximately 40% of Japanese patients suffering from several types of cancers, which express GPC3 at a high level. The present invention provides a peptide of any of the following (A) or (B): (A) a peptide, which has the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3; or (B) a peptide, which has an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution or addition of one or two amino acids with respect to the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3, and which has ability to induce killer T cells.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to identify a glypican-3-derived peptide which can bind to HLA-A2 and activate human killer T cells, so as to provide a means for carrying out an immunotherapy which is able to target approximately 40% of Japanese patients suffering from several types of cancers, which express GPC3 at a high level. The present invention provides a peptide of any of the following (A) or (B): (A) a peptide, which has the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3; or (B) a peptide, which has an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution or addition of one or two amino acids with respect to the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3, and which has ability to induce killer T cells.

Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to identify SPARC protein-derived peptides that are able to induce human killer T cells and helper T cells having cytotoxic activity to tumors, and to provide a means for carrying out a tumor immunotherapy of patients with various types of cancers overexpressing SPARC. The present invention provides a peptide of any of the following: (A) a peptide which consists of the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3; or (B) a peptide which consists of an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution or addition of one or several amino acids with respect to the peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3, and which has capacity to induce cytotoxic (killer) T cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides oligopeptides comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4 and 5. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition containing the amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4 and 5 formulated for the treatment or prevention of cancer in a subject. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of inducing immune response using such oligopeptides and pharmaceutical agents.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to find out another tumor marker which is useful for early diagnosis of melanoma, and provide a diagnostic kit and diagnostic method for malignant melanoma using such marker. The present invention provides a diagnostic kit for malignant melanoma, which comprises an antibody against SPARC and an antibody against GPC3.