Human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein-specific T-cell receptor (HPV-16 E7 TCR)

The Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E7 oncoprotein-specific T-cell receptor is a specialized immune receptor used in adoptive cell therapy to target HPV-driven malignancies. The E7 protein is a viral oncoprotein essential for the oncogenic transformation and maintenance of cancer cells, acting primarily through the inhibition of the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor protein (Draper et al., 2015, Clinical Cancer Research). Since E7 is a foreign viral protein, it provides a highly specific target with minimal risk of cross-reactivity against healthy human tissues. Therapeutic strategies involve engineering a patient's own T cells to express this TCR, which recognizes E7-derived peptides presented by specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules, most commonly HLA-A*02:01 (Nagarsheth et al., 2021, Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer). These engineered T cells are then infused back into the patient to seek out and destroy tumor cells in cancers such as cervical, oropharyngeal, and anal squamous cell carcinomas. Clinical trials have demonstrated the potential for these TCR-T cell therapies to induce regression in metastatic HPV-16-positive cancers (Dorsey et al., 2022, Journal of Clinical Oncology). The therapeutic efficacy of these receptors is highly dependent on the expression levels of the E7 antigen and the presence of the appropriate HLA restriction element in the patient.

Other names

HPV-16 E7-specific TCRE7-TCRT-cell receptor specific for HPV-16 E7E7-specific T-cell receptor

Adoptive T-cell therapy involving the engineering of T cells to express a TCR that recognizes HPV-16 E7 peptides presented by HLA-A*02:01, leading to targeted lysis of HPV-infected malignant cells.