Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 5 (Survivin) peptide epitopes (BIRC5 epitopes)

Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 5 (Survivin) peptide epitopes are short amino acid sequences derived from the survivin protein, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family (UniProt: O15392). Survivin is uniquely characterized by its high expression in nearly all human malignancies and its relative absence in differentiated normal adult tissues, making its derived peptides highly specific targets for cancer immunotherapy (PubMed: 12778131). These epitopes are processed and presented on the surface of tumor cells by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I and II molecules, where they can be recognized by the T-cell receptors of cytotoxic and helper T lymphocytes (PubMed: 15150593). Therapeutic strategies, such as peptide vaccines like SurVaxM (SVN53-67), utilize these epitopes to stimulate a robust, tumor-specific immune response aimed at eradicating survivin-positive cancer cells (PubMed: 29330111). Because survivin plays a dual role in inhibiting apoptosis and promoting cell division, targeting its epitopes addresses a fundamental mechanism of tumor survival and progression (PubMed: 18337446).

Other names

Survivin-derived peptidesSurvivin epitopesBIRC5-derived antigensHLA-restricted survivin peptidesSurvivin-2B peptideSVN53-67

Induction of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and helper T cell responses through MHC-restricted presentation of survivin-derived peptides, leading to the targeted lysis of survivin-expressing neoplastic cells.