Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 5-derived peptide–MHC complex (Survivin-pMHC) (Survivin-pMHC)

Survivin, also known as Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 5 (BIRC5), is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family that plays a dual role in suppressing apoptosis and regulating cell division (UniProt: O15392). While Survivin is highly expressed during fetal development, it is nearly undetectable in most terminally differentiated adult tissues but is prominently overexpressed in a wide range of malignancies, including glioblastoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer (PubMed: 25743512). The target complex is formed when intracellular Survivin is processed by the proteasome into short peptides, which are then loaded onto Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules—most commonly HLA-A*02:01—and transported to the cell surface for presentation to the immune system. This Survivin-pMHC complex acts as a tumor-associated antigen (TAA), making it a specific marker for malignant cells that can be recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Therapeutic interventions targeting this complex include peptide-based vaccines like SurVaxM and DPX-SurVivir, as well as engineered T-cell receptor (TCR-T) therapies designed to induce a robust anti-tumor immune response (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02455557). Because Survivin expression is linked to tumor progression and resistance to therapy, targeting its surface-presented peptides provides a strategy to selectively eliminate cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. The specificity of this target is enhanced by the fact that Survivin is one of the most cancer-specific proteins identified to date, often referred to as a "universal" tumor antigen (PubMed: 15150570).

Other names

Survivin-HLA complexBIRC5-MHC complexSurvivin-derived epitope-MHC complexSurvivin peptide-MHC complex

Induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response and T-cell receptor-mediated cell lysis