Use of a skin test assay to determine tumor‐specific CD8+ T cell reactivity

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Abstract
We have observed delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions in immunized mice challenged subcutaneously with class I-binding peptides related to rejection antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes on mutagenized (tum−) variants of mastocytoma P815. As observed by skin test in virally infected mice challenged with viral peptides, the intrafootpad injection of tum− peptides resulted in a dose-dependent DTH that peaked at approximately 24 h. The response was mediated by CD8+ cells and could be induced by previous vaccination of mice with live tumor cells, intrasplenic deposition of the eliciting peptide, or adoptive transfer with peptide-pulsed syngeneic dendritic cells. These sensitization procedures resulted in an immunologically specific footpad reaction detectable for up to 2–6 months after priming. The evaluation by DTH in cancer patients of long-lived CD8+ anti-tumor T cell responses following local challenge with tumor-specific peptides may be of great interest in human immunotherapy trials involving immunization against identified tumor antigens.