Survivin peptide presented by HLA-A*02:01 (Survivin-HLA-A*02:01)

The Survivin peptide presented by HLA-A*02:01 is a specific peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) that serves as a critical target for cancer immunotherapy. Survivin, encoded by the BIRC5 gene, is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family and is highly expressed in nearly all human malignancies while being nearly undetectable in most normal adult tissues. In cancer cells, Survivin is processed by the proteasome into short peptides, such as the immunodominant Sur95-104 (ELTLGEFLKL) or Sur96-104 (LTLGEFLKL) sequences, which are then loaded onto HLA-A*02:01 molecules and displayed on the cell surface. This complex acts as a beacon for the immune system, specifically for CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes that carry a matching T-cell receptor. Because of its tumor-specific presentation and essential role in cell survival and mitosis, this pMHC complex is a primary target for peptide vaccines, TCR-engineered T-cell therapies, and bispecific T-cell engagers. Targeting this complex allows for the selective destruction of malignant cells while sparing healthy tissue, though its use is restricted to patients carrying the HLA-A*02:01 allele (PMID: 15150571, PMID: 29330111).

Other names

BIRC5 peptide-HLA-A*02:01 complexSurvivin-MHC class I complexSur95-104/HLA-A*02:01Survivin-A2Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 5 peptide-HLA-A*02:01

The target is a peptide-MHC complex recognized by the T-cell receptor (TCR) of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Therapeutic interventions such as vaccines or TCR-engineered T-cells aim to induce or provide specific immune recognition of this complex on the surface of tumor cells, leading to T-cell mediated lysis and tumor destruction (PMID: 31533485, PMID: 25614333).