APVAC2 vaccine + poly-ICLC + GM-CSF

APVAC2 vaccine + poly-ICLC + GM-CSF is a highly personalized cancer immunotherapy regimen developed for patients with glioblastoma. The combination consists of: - **APVAC2**: A patient-specific peptide vaccine targeting neoantigens derived from individual tumor mutations. Peptides are selected based on each patient's tumor mutanome and immunopeptidome analysis to maximize immune response against unique tumor antigens[6][7]. - **poly-ICLC**: A synthetic double-stranded RNA molecule that acts as an immune adjuvant by mimicking viral infection. It activates innate immunity through Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and cytoplasmic receptors RIG-I and MDA5, leading to secretion of type I interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines[1]. This enhances the immunogenicity of the peptide vaccine. - **GM-CSF**: An immune modulator that recruits antigen-presenting cells to the vaccination site, further boosting T-cell responses. This combination is administered alongside standard-of-care chemoradiation in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients. Clinical trials have shown it induces robust CD4+ T cell responses specific for neoantigens[2][4]. The approach was pioneered in the GAPVAC consortium's phase I trial (GAPVAC-101)[6][7].

Brand names

HiltonolLeukine

Other names

APVAC2APVAC-2APVAC 2polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stabilized with poly-L-lysine and carboxymethylcellulose (poly-ICLC)granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)