Peptide-based Immunization for Colon- and and Pancreas-carcinoma

Colorectal and pancreatic cancers are among the most common causes of cancer-related death over the world. Standard of care treatment for colon and pancreas cancer is stage dependent and includes surgical, chemotherapeutic, and radiation therapy. However, the current statistics underlines an urgent need for improved treatment. Patient-individualized treatments and enhancement of the immune response via vaccination are among new therapeutic options.

The enhancement of the immune response via vaccination is among new therapeutic options. Here, either cell-specific antigens, over-expressed tumor specific antigens or mutated tumor-specific antigens (neoepitopes) can be employed. Especially the latter possess the biggest potential for high specificity but presuppose an extensive characterization of the respective tumor. In order to identify a neoepitope-based vaccination approach for patient-individualized treatment options the molecular particularities of tumors have to be analysed.

The aim of this study is to identify tumor molecular particularities and neoepitopes among patients with colorectal and pancreatic tumors undergoing surgery.

Inclusion criteria

• Informed consent is obtained from the participant
• Patients with pancreas or colorectal carcinoma undergoing surgery
• The participant is older than 18 years old

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to provide informed consent
• The patient is not suffering from pancreas or colo-rectal carcinoma
• Patient has a condition contradicting surgery
• The participant is younger than 18 years old
• Previously enrolled in the study