Survivin-derived peptide presented on HLA-A*02:01 (Survivin/HLA-A2)

The Survivin-derived peptide presented on HLA-A*02:01 is a specific peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) target used in cancer immunotherapy. Survivin, encoded by the BIRC5 gene, is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family that is highly expressed in most human cancers but nearly absent in terminally differentiated normal tissues. Intracellular Survivin is processed by the proteasome into short peptides, such as the immunodominant Sur95-104 (ELTLGEFLKL) or Sur96-104 (LTLGEFLKL) sequences, which are then transported to the cell surface and presented by the HLA-A*02:01 molecule. This complex serves as a highly specific signature for malignant cells, allowing the immune system to distinguish them from healthy cells. Therapeutic strategies targeting this complex include peptide vaccines like SurVaxM, which stimulate the patient's own T-cells to recognize the complex, as well as engineered T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies and bispecific molecules designed to bind the pMHC directly. Because Survivin expression is essential for tumor cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy, targeting its presented peptides provides a dual advantage of high tumor specificity and a reduced likelihood of antigen-loss escape variants.

Other names

BIRC5 peptide-HLA-A*02:01 complexSurvivin-A2Survivin95-104/HLA-A2Survivin96-104/HLA-A2pMHC Survivin/HLA-A2

Induction of peptide-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses, T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated recognition of the pMHC complex leading to targeted lysis of tumor cells, and vaccine-mediated active immunotherapy.