Tumor protein p53 (TP53)-derived HLA-A2-restricted peptide–MHC class I complex (p53 HLA-A2 peptide–HLA class I complex)

The target refers to p53-derived peptide epitopes that are presented by the HLA-A2 MHC class I molecule on tumor cells and can be recognized by CD8+ T cells via T-cell receptors. Multiple wild-type p53 HLA-A2–restricted epitopes (such as positions 149–157 and 264–272) elicit CD8+ T-cell responses and have been used in vaccine studies. Shared mutant p53 neoepitopes, notably p53 R175H presented by HLA-A2, are recognized by tumor-specific TCRs with structural specificity focused on the mutant residue, enabling adoptive T-cell therapy approaches. Elevated p53 levels in tumors harboring mutant TP53 can increase presentation of wild-type p53 peptides, enabling discrimination between malignant and normal cells under some conditions and motivating development of TCR-like antibodies and soluble TCRs that bind specific p53 peptide–MHC complexes.

Other names

p53-derived HLA-A2–restricted epitopep53 peptide–HLA-A2 complexp53/HLA-A2 peptide–MHC complexWild-type p53 HLA-A2 epitope (e.g., p53 149–157/HLA-A2, p53 264–272/HLA-A2)Mutant p53 neoepitope HLA-A2 complex (e.g., p53 R175H/HLA-A2)

TCR/TCR-mimic antibody binding to specific p53 peptide presented by HLA-A2 on tumor cells, leading to immune effector functions such as complement-dependent cytotoxicity or T cell–mediated cytotoxicity Vaccination with p53 peptides to expand p53-specific CD8+ T cells that recognize p53 peptide–HLA-A2 on tumor cells