NCIt definition : A preparation of autologous T-lymphocytes that have been transduced with a lentiviral
vector encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) containing a single chain variable
fragment (scFv) derived from a human monoclonal antibody specific for an immunogenic
human tumor-associated antigen (TAA) alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) epitope, AFP158-166,
complexed with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*02:01 (HLA-A*0201/AFP), fused to the
co-stimulatory domains of CD28 and CD3zeta, with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic
activities. Upon administration, the autologous anti-HLA-A*0201/AFP CAR T-cells ET1402L1
specifically recognize and selectively bind to the AFP158-166 peptide presented by
HLA-A*0201. Upon binding to the AFP-MHC complex, the T-cells release cytokines and
induce selective toxicity in HLA-A*0201/AFP-positive tumor cells. AFP, an intracellularly
expressed fetal glycoprotein rarely expressed in adult tissues, is overexpressed in
certain tumors of endodermal origin and plays a key role in tumor cell proliferation
and survival. AFP is processed into peptides and presented by class I major histocompatibility
complexes (MHCs) on the surface of tumor cells.;