Enhanced Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and Antigen Presenting Cells for Bladder Cancer Treatment

An improved vaccine composition and system for treating bladder cancer, enhancing immune response through the combination of immunotherapeutic primed antigen presenting cells, IL-15:IL-15Rα fusion protein complex, and bladder cancer-specific tumor antigen.

The original patent disclosed a vaccine composition for treating bladder cancer using antigen presenting cells and IL-15:IL-15Rα fusion protein complex. However, it had limitations in terms of enhancing immune response. The new inventive concept addresses this limitation by incorporating a bladder cancer-specific tumor antigen, which significantly enhances the immune response to bladder cancer cells.

The enhanced vaccine composition and system comprise immunotherapeutic primed antigen presenting cells isolated from a urine sample or bladder mucosa of an immunotherapeutic treated subject, and an IL-15:IL-15Rα fusion protein complex. The system further includes a bladder cancer-specific tumor antigen, which amplifies the immune response to bladder cancer cells. Additionally, the composition may include a checkpoint inhibitor to further enhance the immune response. The nanoparticle-based delivery system is also an optional component, providing targeted and controlled release of the vaccine composition.

The new claims introduce the combination of immunotherapeutic primed antigen presenting cells, IL-15:IL-15Rα fusion protein complex, and bladder cancer-specific tumor antigen, which is a novel and non-obvious improvement over the original patent. This combination provides a synergistic effect in enhancing immune response to bladder cancer cells.

Alternative embodiments may include varying the type of bladder cancer-specific tumor antigen, using different IL-15:IL-15Rα fusion protein complexes, or incorporating additional immunomodulatory molecules. The nanoparticle-based delivery system could be replaced with other targeted delivery systems, such as liposomes or viral vectors.

The enhanced vaccine composition and system have significant commercial potential in the treatment of bladder cancer, particularly in the non-muscle invasive bladder cancer market. The target industries include pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, and research institutions focused on cancer immunotherapy.