Survivin-derived peptide-HLA class I complex (Survivin-pMHC)

Survivin, encoded by the BIRC5 gene, is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein family that is highly overexpressed in the vast majority of human cancers while being nearly absent in most terminally differentiated adult tissues (Altieri, 2003, Nature Reviews Cancer). Survivin-derived peptide epitopes are short fragments of the survivin protein that are processed by the proteasome and presented on the cell surface by Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I molecules. These peptide-HLA (pMHC) complexes serve as the primary target for CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which recognize the complex through their specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) (Andersen et al., 2001, Cancer Research). Because survivin is essential for tumor cell survival and mitosis, it is considered an ideal tumor-associated antigen with a low risk of antigen loss. Therapeutic strategies targeting these epitopes include peptide vaccines like SurVaxM, which has shown promise in treating glioblastoma by stimulating an endogenous immune response, and adoptive cell therapies using TCR-engineered T cells (Ahluwalia et al., 2023, Journal of Clinical Oncology). By specifically targeting the survivin-pMHC complex, these therapies aim to selectively eliminate malignant cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

Other names

Survivin-derived peptide epitopesBIRC5 peptide-HLA complexSurvivin-HLA-A*0201 complexSurvivin-derived T-cell epitopesSurvivin-MHC class I complex

Induction of peptide-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses that recognize and lyse survivin-expressing tumor cells via T-cell receptor (TCR) binding to the peptide-HLA complex.