Human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 peptide-specific T-cell receptor (HPV16 E6/E7 TCR)

Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E6 and E7 peptide-specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) are specialized immune receptors engineered or isolated to target the E6 and E7 oncoproteins of HPV16 (NCI, 2022). These oncoproteins are essential for the malignant transformation and maintenance of HPV-associated cancers, including cervical, oropharyngeal, and anal carcinomas (JCI Insight, 2018). Because E6 and E7 are viral proteins not expressed in healthy human tissues, they serve as highly specific tumor-associated antigens (Cancer.gov, 2022). TCR-T cell therapy involves transducing a patient's T cells with these specific TCRs, which then recognize E6 or E7 peptides presented by Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules, most commonly HLA-A*02:01, on the surface of cancer cells (ClinicalTrials.gov, 2023). Upon recognition, the TCR-engineered T cells initiate a potent cytotoxic response, leading to the destruction of the tumor (Gilead, 2015). This therapeutic approach is currently being evaluated in clinical trials, such as those for KITE-439 and SCG142, as a precision immunotherapy for metastatic or refractory HPV-positive malignancies (Frontiers in Immunology, 2026; PR Newswire, 2024).

Other names

HPV16 E6-specific T-cell receptorHPV16 E7-specific T-cell receptorHPV-16 E6/E7 TCRHPV16 E6/E7 TCR-TE6 TCRE7 TCR

TCR-engineered T cells recognize specific HPV16 E6 or E7 peptides presented by HLA molecules on tumor cells, triggering T-cell activation and cytotoxic destruction of the target cells.