autologous CD8+ tyrosinase-specific T cells

Autologous CD8+ tyrosinase-specific T cells are a form of adoptive cell therapy (ACT) specifically developed for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. This personalized immunotherapy involves the isolation of tyrosinase-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8+) from a patient's own peripheral blood, followed by their ex vivo selection, expansion, and subsequent re-infusion into the patient, often after a lymphodepleting conditioning regimen. These T cells are programmed to recognize tyrosinase, a copper-containing enzyme involved in melanin biosynthesis that is highly expressed in melanocytes and the majority of melanoma cells, but absent in most other healthy tissues. The recognition occurs when tyrosinase-derived peptides are presented on the cell surface by HLA-A*02:01 molecules. Upon re-infusion, these effector cells target and induce apoptosis in melanoma cells through the release of perforins and granzymes. This therapy has been primarily advanced through clinical research at institutions like the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Other names

autologous tyrosinase-specific T-cell clonestyrosinase-specific CD8+ T cellstyrosinase-specific T cellsautologous tyrosinase-specific CD8+ T-cell clones