T-Cell Receptors Targeting Epstein Barr Virus Latent Membrane Protein 2 for Treatment of Lymphomas and Epithelial Cancer

Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is one of the most common human viruses in the world and often leads to persistent latent infection. EBV-related cancers have the common feature of harboring latent EBV within the cancer cells, and include cancer such as lymphomas (Hodgkin lymphoma, T/NK cell lymphoma, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders) and certain incurable epithelial cancers (nasopharyngeal cancer and gastric cancer). In such cases, the EBV Latent Membrane Protein 2 (EBV-LMP2), a transmembrane protein, is highly expressed by cancer cells and not in life-essential tissues, making EBV-LMP2 an attractive target for cancer therapeutics.  Investigators at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have developed novel T-cell Receptors (TCRs) targeting EBV-LMP2 for the treatment of EBV-LMP2-positive lymphomas and solid tumors. These novel TCRs recognize and target EBV-LMP2 – and induce in vitro cell cytolysis of cancer cells. Importantly, these TCRs have a high specificity in targeting the EBV-LMP2 antigen without negative cross-reactivity to other human peptides. These TCRs have also shown potent targeting and cytolytic activity in various tumor cell models, strong ly supporting that these candidates may be further developed as therapeutics.NCI ’sExperimental Transplantation and Immunotherapy Branch is seeking parties interested in licensing and/or co-development research collaboration of this technology for commercialization in the field of cancer therapeutics.  IC: ...
Source: NIH OTT Licensing Opportunities - Category: Research Authors: Source Type: research