A composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide, or a recombinant Listeria strain expressing said recombinant polypeptide, said recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a High Molecular Weight Melanoma-Associated Antigen (HMW-MAA) protein encoded by a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 21-23, and a PEST sequence from Listeria, for use in preventing or inhibiting a tumor growth or cancer in a subject.