Antitumor vaccination using peptide based vaccines.

Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTLs) recognize Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I in complex with peptides. Peptides derived from Tumor Associated Antigens (TAAs) are therefore targets for tumor rejection. A number of TAAs were identified in the last decade from human and murine tumors. Here we summarize the methods for TAA and peptide identification, the nature of TAA peptides and the making of antitumor vaccines.