Can hTERT peptide (540-548) -specific CD8 T cells recognize and kill tumor cells?
This commentary reviews the data on HLA-A2-restricted CD8 T cells specific for peptide (540-548) derived from hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase). Several studies have reported the successful generation of such T cells (1, 2, 3). However, tumor recognition was observed in some, but not all, studies. More data are required to elucidate whether hTERT peptide (540-548) -specific T cells can indeed recognize and destroy tumor cells. It would be highly useful if telomerase would emerge as a universal tumor antigen that can be targeted in the cancer immunotherapy of HLA-A2 positive patients.
Division of Clinical Onco-Immunology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland. daniel.speiser@hospvd.ch
Daniel E
DE
Speiser
Jean-Charles
JC
Cerottini
Pedro
P
Romero
D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000276:immunology*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; C437311:telomerase reverse transcriptase (540-548); D019098:Telomerase