Tumor cells expressing human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), survivin, and autologous tumor-derived antigens (hTERT/Survivin/Autologous Antigen-expressing Tumor Cells)

This target represents a composite antigenic profile utilized in personalized cancer immunotherapy, most notably in dendritic cell (DC) vaccines like AV-GBM-1. It combines two broadly expressed tumor-associated antigens (TAAs)—human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and survivin—with a suite of autologous antigens derived from the patient's own tumor-initiating cells (UniProt: O14746, O15392). hTERT is the catalytic subunit of telomerase, which is essential for maintaining telomere length and conferring immortality to approximately 85-90% of all human cancers (PubMed: 31209119). Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family, is highly expressed in most cancers but nearly absent in terminally differentiated normal tissues, making it an ideal target for selective therapy (PubMed: 25745470). By incorporating autologous tumor-derived antigens alongside these shared markers, the therapeutic approach aims to address tumor heterogeneity and minimize the risk of immune escape. This multi-antigen strategy is designed to prime the patient's immune system, specifically cytotoxic T lymphocytes, to recognize and eliminate malignant cells while sparing normal tissues (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03400917).

Other names

hTERT/Survivin/Autologous tumor antigen-positive cellsAV-GBM-1 target antigensTriple-antigen tumor cell targetTumor-initiating cell antigens

Induction of a polyvalent cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response through the presentation of shared and patient-specific antigens by autologous dendritic cells to prime the immune system against tumor-initiating cells.