Design of a novel multiepitope vaccine against glioblastoma by in silico approaches

Sako Mirzaie; Kevin Da Yuan; Heyu Ni; Xiao Yu Wu

doi:10.1038/s41598-025-03672-7

Design of a novel multiepitope vaccine against glioblastoma by in silico approaches

Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 5;15(1):24046. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-03672-7.

Authors

Sako Mirzaie¹, Kevin Da Yuan², Heyu Ni^{3

4

5}, Xiao Yu Wu⁶

Affiliations

¹ Advanced Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Laboratory, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3M2, Canada. s.mirzaie@utoronto.ca.
² Advanced Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Laboratory, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3M2, Canada.
³ Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ Canadian Blood Services Centre for Innovation, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁶ Advanced Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Laboratory, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3M2, Canada. sxy.wu@utoronto.ca.

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor, with a median survival rate of less than two years. Currently, there is no cure for GBM, underscoring the urgent need for innovative treatment approaches. Vaccine design emerges as a crucial strategy, offering a safe and effective means for both preventive and therapeutic interventions against GBM. In this study, we targeted four GBM-associated mutated surface proteins-urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor (PLAUR), integrin beta-3 (ITGB3), and the B-41 alpha chain (HLA-B) and A-24 alpha chain (HLA-A) of the HLA class I histocompatibility antigens-to design a peptide-based vaccine. The vaccine construct includes cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and T helper cell (Th cell) epitopes, and was meticulously evaluated for antigenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity. The results indicate that the vaccine is antigenic and non-allergenic, making it a promising candidate. Additionally, the physicochemical properties of the vaccine suggest stability and suitability for further development. Immune simulation studies predict a strong immune response upon vaccine administration. Our vaccine shows promise as a potential tool in the fight against GBM, offering new hope for patients facing this devastating disease.

Keywords: Epitope; Glioblastoma (GBM); HLA class I; Urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor; Vaccine.

MeSH terms

Brain Neoplasms* / immunology
Brain Neoplasms* / therapy
Cancer Vaccines* / immunology
Computer Simulation
Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte* / immunology
Glioblastoma* / immunology
Glioblastoma* / therapy
Humans
T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
Vaccines, Subunit / immunology

Substances

Cancer Vaccines
Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
Vaccines, Subunit