Survivin-derived peptide-Major Histocompatibility Complex (Survivin pMHC)

Survivin, encoded by the BIRC5 gene, is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family that regulates both programmed cell death and mitotic progression (Altieri, 2008). It is characterized by high expression in nearly all human malignancies and minimal expression in normal adult tissues, identifying it as a prominent tumor-associated antigen (Andersen et al., 2001). Survivin-derived antigenic peptides are short sequences produced by intracellular proteolysis that are subsequently loaded onto Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules for cell-surface presentation. These peptide-MHC (pMHC) complexes are the primary targets for T-cell receptors (TCRs) on cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which mediate the destruction of tumor cells. Therapeutic strategies targeting these complexes include peptide vaccines such as SurVaxM and DPX-Survivac, which aim to prime the endogenous immune system (Fenstermaker et al., 2016). Additionally, adoptive cell therapies utilizing engineered TCR-T cells are being developed to provide a direct, high-affinity attack against Survivin-presenting cancer cells (Schmitt et al., 2009). Because Survivin is essential for tumor cell survival and resistance to therapy, targeting its presented epitopes offers a pathway to eliminate chemoresistant cell populations. Clinical monitoring often involves assessing HLA-A*02:01 status and BIRC5 expression levels to ensure appropriate patient selection for these targeted immunotherapies.

Other names

BIRC5 peptide-MHC complexSurvivin epitope-HLA complexSurvivin-derived T-cell epitopeSurvivin-MHC class I complexSurvivin-HLA-A*02:01 complex

T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated recognition of peptide-MHC complexes leading to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activation and tumor cell lysis.