Alpha-fetoprotein-specific T cell receptor (AFP-TCR) (AFP-TCR)

The Alpha-fetoprotein-specific T cell receptor (AFP-TCR) is an engineered or naturally selected receptor designed to recognize peptides derived from Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the context of the HLA-A*02:01 MHC molecule [1]. AFP is a well-characterized oncofetal antigen that is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but has limited expression in healthy adult tissues, making it an ideal candidate for targeted immunotherapy [3]. This specific TCR is often identified or expanded using autologous dendritic cells pulsed with AFP-derived peptides (such as AFP158-166) to ensure high specificity and affinity for the target epitope [1]. In clinical applications, such as the ADP-A2AFP program, patient T cells are transduced with the TCR gene to create a population of T cells capable of infiltrating tumors and inducing cell death upon recognition of the AFP-peptide-HLA complex [2]. This therapeutic strategy aims to overcome the limitations of the endogenous immune response against liver cancer [3]. Monitoring for cytokine release syndrome and potential off-target reactivity remains a critical component of clinical management for patients receiving these engineered cells [2].

Other names

Alpha-fetoprotein-specific T-cell receptorHLA-A*02:01-restricted AFP-specific T-cell receptorAFP-specific TCRTCR-AFPADP-A2AFP TCRAFP158-specific TCR

Adoptive T-cell therapy (TCR-T) involving the engineering of autologous T cells to express a high-affinity TCR that recognizes AFP peptides in the context of HLA-A*02:01, leading to T-cell activation and tumor cell lysis [2, 3].