T-cell receptors recognizing EGF and P64K-derived peptides (TCR-EGF/P64K)

T-cell receptors (TCRs) recognizing EGF and P64K-derived peptides are the specialized immune receptors that mediate the cellular response to the CIMAvax-EGF therapeutic vaccine. This vaccine utilizes a conjugate of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the P64K protein from Neisseria meningitidis, which acts as a potent immunogenic carrier to overcome self-tolerance to EGF (Rodriguez et al., 2016). The TCRs on CD4+ helper T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells recognize specific peptide fragments of these proteins presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (Gonzalez et al., 2007). The activation of these TCRs is essential for stimulating B cells to produce high titers of anti-EGF antibodies, which circulate and sequester endogenous EGF, thereby preventing its binding to the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) on tumor cells (Saavedra et al., 2011). This immunological castration of EGF leads to the inhibition of signaling pathways critical for the proliferation and survival of EGFR-dependent cancers, most notably non-small cell lung cancer (Crombet et al., 2003). Consequently, these TCRs are a critical component of the vaccine's mechanism of action and serve as a focal point for understanding immune-mediated tumor growth inhibition.

Other names

EGF-P64K specific T-cell receptorsCIMAvax-EGF induced T-cell receptorsT-cell receptors for EGF-P64K conjugate

Induction of T-cell activation to provide B-cell help for the production of neutralizing anti-EGF antibodies.