Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) peptide epitope (HER2 peptide)

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) peptide epitopes are short amino acid sequences derived from the HER2 protein, a receptor tyrosine kinase often overexpressed in various malignancies such as breast, gastric, and ovarian cancers (UniProt: P04626). These peptides are processed intracellularly and presented on the cell surface by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules, where they can be recognized by T-cell receptors (PubMed: 25173131). As therapeutic targets, these epitopes are primarily utilized in the development of cancer vaccines, such as Nelipepimut-S (E75) and GP2, which are designed to stimulate a robust CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response against tumor cells (PubMed: 32534378). This approach is particularly relevant for preventing recurrence in patients with low-to-intermediate HER2 expression who may not benefit from standard HER2-targeted monoclonal antibodies. The efficacy of these peptide-based therapies is often dependent on the patient's human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type, as specific peptides must bind to compatible MHC alleles to trigger an immune response (PubMed: 22101595). Consequently, patient selection often involves screening for both HER2 status and specific HLA alleles to ensure therapeutic compatibility.

Other names

E75 peptideGP2 peptideAE37 peptideErbB2 peptideNeu peptideHER2/neu peptide epitope

Induction of a specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against HER2-expressing cells through MHC class I or II presentation (PubMed: 25173131).