PEGFRvIII, Epidermal growth factor receptor variant III peptide
EGFRvIII peptide is a peptide derived from the fusion junction of epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII), a variant of EGFR with amino acids 6-273 deleted. This spontaneously occurring alteration is found in a high percentage of primary human brain, breast, lung and ovarian tumours making EGFRvIII an ideal target of immunotherapy in EGFRvIII-expressing tumours. EGFRvIII peptide was identified from a number of candidates as the most immunogenic epitope for major histocompatibility complex I (MHC I) binding to induce tumour specific immune responses. In a glioblastoma mouse brain tumour model EGFRvIII peptide co-administered with the toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) adjuvant Flagellin B induces an increase in CD8+T cells and a decrease in Treg cells, inducing tumour apoptosis, inhibiting tumour growth and increasing survival.
