T cell receptor recognizing Carbonic anhydrase IX peptide–MHC complexes (TCR-CA9)

The T cell receptor (TCR) recognizing APC8020-presented peptide–MHC complexes is the primary biological target for the investigational immunotherapy Uruleucel-T (also known as APC8020). This target refers to the population of endogenous T cell receptors in a patient that are capable of recognizing specific peptides derived from Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CA9) when presented on Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. CA9 is a cell-surface enzyme that is highly overexpressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) but has limited expression in normal tissues, making it a suitable target for cancer immunotherapy. The therapeutic approach involves harvesting a patient's autologous antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and loading them with a recombinant fusion protein consisting of CA9 and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF). Once re-infused, these primed APCs (the APC8020 product) present CA9-derived peptides to the patient's T cells, specifically binding to and activating the TCRs that recognize the CA9-MHC complex. This interaction triggers a targeted cytotoxic immune response against CA9-expressing tumor cells, aiming to treat advanced kidney cancer through active cellular immunization.

Other names

T cell receptor recognizing APC8020-presented peptide–MHC complexesCarbonic anhydrase IX-specific T-cell receptorCA9-specific TCRUruleucel-T target receptor

The drug (Uruleucel-T) acts as an active cellular immunotherapy where autologous APCs present CA9 peptides to endogenous T cells via the T cell receptor, inducing T cell activation and a targeted anti-tumor immune response.