Alpha-fetoprotein (158-166) peptide-HLA-A*02:01 complex (AFP158-166/HLA-A*02:01)

The Alpha-fetoprotein (158-166) peptide-HLA-A*02:01 complex is a specific tumor-associated antigen (TAA) presented on the surface of malignant cells, primarily in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is an oncofetal protein that is highly expressed during fetal development but is typically silenced in healthy adult tissues, making its re-expression in liver cancer a viable therapeutic window [1]. The specific nonamer peptide fragment AFP158-166 (sequence: FMNKFIYEI) is processed intracellularly and loaded onto the HLA-A*02:01 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule for presentation to T cells [2]. This complex is the target of advanced immunotherapies, including TCR-engineered T cells (TCR-T) and TCR-mimic (TCRm) antibodies, which are designed to recognize the pMHC with high affinity and specificity [3]. Drugs such as afamitresgene autoleucel (ADP-A2AFP) and ET140202 utilize this recognition to trigger a potent cytotoxic immune response specifically against AFP-positive tumor cells [4]. Clinical application of these therapies requires rigorous patient screening for both the HLA-A*02:01 genotype and significant AFP expression within the tumor [5].

Other names

AFP158-166/HLA-A2 complexHLA-A*02:01-restricted AFP158-166AFP-pMHC complexFMNKFIYEI/HLA-A*02:01

T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated recognition of the specific peptide-MHC complex on the tumor cell surface, leading to the activation of engineered T cells and subsequent cytotoxic lysis of the target cell.