T-cell Receptors Targeting Human Papillomavirus Oncoproteins

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of human viruses known to cause various malignancies. Of the group, HPV-16 is the most prevalent strain – an estimated 90% of adults have been exposed. HPV-16 is also the strain most commonly associated with malignancy, causing the vast majority of cervical, anal, vaginal, vulvar, and penile cancers. Currently, HPV-positive malignancies non-responsive to surgery or radiation are incurable and poorly palliated by existing systemic therapies. Thus, an alternative therapeutic approach for HPV-positive malignancies is needed.  Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) developed two T cell receptors (TCRs) that may be used in adoptive cell therapy to treat HPV-positive malignancies. One TCR confers high-avidity recognition of the HPV-specific E6 oncoprotein (NCI Invention Reference E-495-2013) while the other TCR confers high-avidity recognition of the HPV-specific E7 oncoprotein (NCI Invention Reference E-176-2014). These oncoproteins drive malignant transformation in HPV-infected cells. Further, E6 and E7 are specific to and constitutively expressed by cancer cells, making them ideal therapeutic targets. Both TCRs target human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*02-restricted epitopes, E629-38 and E711-19 respectively. The inventors successfully transduced T cells obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with these TCRs. An ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial is investigating the efficacy of the E7-targeting TCR in treating ...
Source: NIH OTT Licensing Opportunities - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Therapeutics Licensing Desired & Collaboration Desired Collaboration Sought NCI Source Type: research