Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2-derived HLA-A*2402-restricted peptide epitope (VEGFR2-HLA-A*2402 peptide)

The Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-derived HLA-A*2402 peptide epitope is a specific antigenic fragment used in cancer immunotherapy to target tumor angiogenesis (Miyazawa et al., 2010, Cancer Science). VEGFR2 is a critical driver of blood vessel formation and is significantly upregulated on the endothelial cells of the tumor neovasculature compared to normal tissue. In patients with the HLA-A*2402 allele, these specific peptides (such as VEGFR2-169 or VEGFR2-1084) are presented by MHC class I molecules, making them recognizable to the immune system (Masuzawa et al., 2012, Cancer Science). Therapeutic strategies involve using these synthetic peptides as vaccines to induce a robust cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response. These CTLs then identify and eliminate VEGFR2-expressing cells, effectively starving the tumor by disrupting its nutrient and oxygen supply. This approach is particularly relevant for treating solid tumors like pancreatic, gastric, and colorectal cancers, where angiogenesis plays a vital role in progression (Wada et al., 2005, Journal of Immunotherapy).

Other names

VEGFR2-169 peptideVEGFR2-1084 peptideKDR-169 peptideKDR-1084 peptideVascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 peptide epitopeHLA-A*24:02-restricted VEGFR2 epitope

The peptide acts as an antigen that, when administered with an adjuvant, is taken up by professional antigen-presenting cells and presented to CD8+ T cells. This leads to the expansion of VEGFR2-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that recognize the HLA-A*2402/peptide complex on tumor-associated endothelial cells, inducing cell lysis and inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.