NCIt definition : Human autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) transduced with a melanoma antigen
MART-1 epitope-determined T cell receptor (TCR) gene, with potential antineoplastic
activity. PBLs are isolated from a melanoma patient and pulsed with a viral vector
that encodes the TCR specific for an epitope of MART-1 (F5 TCR). After expansion ex
vivo, the transduced autologous PBLs, expressing this specific TCR, are reintroduced
into the patient, and bind to melanoma cells expressing the MART-1 antigen, which
may result in specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) killing of MART-1-expressing melanoma
cells. MART-1 (melanoma antigen recognized by T cells 1), also known as Melan-A, is
a melanocyte lineage-specific transmembrane protein.;