tumor necrosis factor-alpha-armed human papillomavirus-16 E7 T-cell receptor T cells

tumor necrosis factor-alpha-armed human papillomavirus-16 E7 T-cell receptor T cells is an experimental T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T-cell therapy designed to treat solid tumors associated with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) infection. Developed by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), this therapy utilizes T cells that are genetically modified to express a TCR specific for the HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein. To enhance efficacy against the immunosuppressive environment of solid tumors, the cells are further engineered to locally secrete tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) upon recognition of the tumor antigen. This arming strategy aims to promote T-cell infiltration and modulate the tumor microenvironment by reducing the activity of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Preclinical data presented at the AACR 2026 meeting demonstrated that these armed TCR-T cells provide superior antitumor activity and improved survival in mouse models compared to conventional TCR-T cells, without inducing systemic TNF-a-related toxicity.

Other names

TNF-alpha-armed HPV-16 E7 TCR-T cellsTNF-a-armed HPV-16 E7 TCR-TTNF-alpha-armed HPV-16 E7 TCR-engineered T cells