Cytomegalovirus phosphoprotein 65 and tumor-associated antigens (pp65/TAA)

Cytomegalovirus phosphoprotein 65 (pp65) and patient-derived tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) represent a composite antigenic target used in personalized cancer immunotherapies, particularly for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). pp65 is a major tegument protein of the Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) that is frequently expressed in GBM tumors but not in the surrounding normal brain tissue, providing a unique viral neoantigen for therapeutic targeting [1][2]. Patient-derived TAAs are typically sourced from autologous tumor lysates to address the inherent heterogeneity of the malignancy and prevent immune escape [3]. Drugs or biologics targeting this combination, such as dendritic cell vaccines or adoptive T-cell therapies, work by priming the patient's immune system to recognize and destroy cells presenting these specific peptide fragments on MHC molecules [2][4]. This dual-targeting approach aims to enhance the breadth and potency of the anti-tumor immune response compared to single-antigen strategies [5]. Clinical trials have demonstrated that targeting pp65 in conjunction with other TAAs can improve overall survival in patients with recurrent or newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas [2][3].

Other names

pp65UL83HCMV phosphoprotein 65Human cytomegalovirus tegument protein pp65Tumor lysate antigensPatient-specific tumor antigens

Induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses against tumor cells expressing pp65 and other tumor-associated antigens.