Forkhead box M1-derived CD8+ T-cell epitope (FOXM1 epitope)

Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1)-derived CD8+ T-cell epitopes are specific peptide fragments derived from the FOXM1 protein that are presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules on the surface of cancer cells (Yokomine et al., 2010, Br J Cancer). FOXM1 is a proliferation-associated transcription factor that plays a critical role in cell cycle progression, DNA repair, and angiogenesis (Raychaudhuri & Park, 2011, Cancer Res). It is highly overexpressed in a broad spectrum of human malignancies but has restricted expression in normal adult tissues, categorizing it as a promising tumor-associated antigen (TAA). These epitopes serve as the primary recognition sites for CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which, upon activation, can induce apoptosis in tumor cells. Therapeutic interventions, such as peptide vaccines and adoptive cell transfers using TCR-engineered T cells, aim to exploit these epitopes to mount a robust and specific anti-tumor immune response (Takayama et al., 2011, Cancer Sci). Clinical studies have demonstrated that these epitopes can successfully induce CTLs in patients with various cancers, including biliary tract and gastric cancers, without significant systemic toxicity (NCT01591317).

Other names

FOXM1-derived peptidesFOXM1-derived CTL epitopesForkhead box M1 antigenFOXM1-derived HLA-restricted peptides

Induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses that recognize and lyse FOXM1-expressing tumor cells via MHC class I presentation.