autologous MAGE-C2-specific TCR-engineered T cells

Autologous MAGE-C2-specific TCR-engineered T cells (also referred to as MC2 TCR T cells) is an investigational adoptive cell therapy developed by Erasmus MC (Universitair Medisch Centrum Rotterdam). The therapy involves isolating a patient's own T cells and genetically engineering them via T-cell receptor (TCR) gene transfer to express a TCR specifically targeting the MAGE-C2 (MC2) cancer-germline antigen. Specifically, the selected TCR recognizes the HLA-A2-restricted ALKDVEERV epitope (often referred to as the ALK epitope, representing amino acids 336-344 of MAGE-C2). MAGE-C2 is highly expressed in certain tumors, such as melanoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but is absent in normal adult tissues (except for immune-privileged germline cells), making it a highly selective target. To enhance tumor recognition, the therapy is administered in combination with epigenetic pretreatment (using azacitidine and valproate) to upregulate MAGE-C2 expression on tumor cells, alongside low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2). It is currently being evaluated in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial (NCT04729543) for patients with advanced MAGE-C2-positive, HLA-A2-positive melanoma or recurrent/metastatic HNSCC.

Other names

MC2 TCR T cellsMC-2 TCR T cellsMC 2 TCR T cellsMAGE-C2/HLA-A2 TCR T cellsMC2 TCR-T cellsMC-2 TCR-T cellsMC 2 TCR-T cellsautologous MC2 TCR T cellsautologous MAGE-C2-specific HLA-A2-restricted TCR T lymphocytes