As discussed in greater detail herein, isolated epitope peptides derived from TOPK and immunogenic fragments thereof have an ability to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and thus are suitable for use in cancer immunotherapy, more particularly as cancer vaccines. The peptides of the present invention encompass both of peptides including a TOPK-derived amino acid sequence and modified versions thereof, in which one, two, or several amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added, provided such modified versions have CTL inducibility. Further provided are polynucleotides encoding any of the aforementioned peptides as well as pharmaceutical compositions that include any of the aforementioned peptides or polynucleotides. The peptides, polynucleotides, and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention find particular utility in either or both of the treatment and prevention of cancers and tumors, including, for example, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, cholan-giocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, diffuse-type gastric cancer, non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lymphoma, osteosarcoma, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and soft tissue tumor.
