Human papillomavirus type 16 E7 peptide presented by HLA-A*02:01 (HPV16 E7 peptide/HLA-A*02:01)

The HPV16 E7 peptide presented by HLA-A*02:01 is a tumor-associated antigen complex formed when a peptide epitope derived from the E7 oncoprotein of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is bound and presented on the cell surface by the human MHC class I molecule HLA-A*02:01. This peptide-MHC complex acts as a specific signal recognized by cytotoxic T cells and can be targeted by TCR-mimic antibodies or engineered T cells for immunotherapy of HPV16-related cancers, especially cervical cancer. Its specificity arises from both the sequence of the E7 peptide (often residues 11-19, YMLDLQPET, or similar) and the presenting HLA allele. Therapeutics targeting this complex aim to generate selective immune responses against infected or malignant cells expressing HPV16 E7 in the context of HLA-A*02:01, with pre-clinical and early clinical strategies including vaccines, TCR-T cells, and monoclonal antibodies in development.

Other names

HPV16 E7/HLA-A2 complexHPV16 E7 peptide–HLA-A*02:01HPV E7 p11-19/HLA-A2 complexHuman papillomavirus type 16 E7 peptide-MHC class I complex

Targeted immune activation: T cell recognition of E7 peptide/HLA-A*02:01 leads to cytotoxic killing of the presenting cancer cell. Monoclonal antibody binding: Antibodies (TCR-mimics) selectively bind to the peptide-MHC complex, enabling immune-mediated killing or delivery of cytotoxic moieties. Adoptive cell therapy: Engineered T cells (TCR-T or CAR-T) specifically target tumor cells presenting this complex.