Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
Technology ID
TAB-4363

Human T Cell Receptors for Treating Cancer

E-Numbers
E-269-2010-0
Lead Inventors
Morgan, Richard
Co-Inventors
Chinnasamy, Nachimuthu
Rosenberg, Steven
Applications
Therapeutics
Therapeutic Areas
Oncology
Development Stages
Pre-clinical (in vivo)
Lead IC
NCI
ICs
NCI

T cell receptors (TCRs) are proteins that recognize antigens in the context of infected or transformed cells and activate T cells to mediate an immune response and destroy abnormal cells. TCRs consist of two domains, one variable domain that recognizes the antigen and one constant region that helps the TCR anchor to the membrane and transmit recognition signals by interacting with other proteins. When a TCR is stimulated by an antigen, such as a tumor antigen, some signaling pathways activated in the cell lead to the production of cytokines, which mediate the immune response.

There are ten (10) known members of the synovial sarcoma breakpoint X (SSX) protein family designated SSX-1 through SSX-10. The T cell receptors (TCRs) developed by these NCI scientists have specificity for SSX-2 and deliver a robust immune response when they encounter SSX-2 expressing cells. However, these TCRs also recognize five (5) other SSX family members, including SSX-3, SSX-4, SSX-5, SSX-9, and/or SSX-10, and deliver a productive, intermediate immune response in the context of target cells expressing these antigens. This versatile antigen coverage could allow these SSX-specific TCRs to be utilized in the treatment of multiple types of cancer in a wide array of cancer patients.  Infusing cancer patients with SSX-2 specific T cells via adoptive immunotherapy could prove to be a powerful approach for selectively attacking tumors without generating toxicity against noncancerous cells.

Competitive Advantages:

  • Selective toxicity for tumor cells
  • Ability to recognize multiple SSX antigens 
  • Versatile antigen recognition 

Commercial Applications:

  • Immunotherapeutics to treat and/or prevent the recurrence of a variety of human cancers;
  • A research tool to investigate signaling pathways in SSX-2 expressing cancer cells;
  • An in vitro diagnostic tool to screen for cells expressing an SSX antigen from a recognized member of the SSX protein family.

Request More Info

Licensing Contacts
Burke, Andrew
burkear@nih.gov

Related Inventions

  • E-105-2012
  • E-236-2010

Patents

  • US
    Provisional (PRV) 61/384,931
    Filed on 2010-09-21
    Status: Abandoned
  • Patent Cooperation Treaty
    (PCT) PCT/US11/51537
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Expired
  • Australia
    National Stage 2011305817
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • Canada
    National Stage 2811788
    Filed on 2016-09-09
    Status: Issued
  • European Patent
    National Stage 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • China
    National Stage 201180045492.0
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • Japan
    National Stage 2013-529285
    Filed on 2013-03-19
    Status: Issued
  • Israel
    National Stage 225063
    Filed on 2013-03-05
    Status: Issued
  • US Patent 9,345,748
    Filed on 2013-06-07
    Status: Issued
  • US Patent 10,143,724
    Filed on 2016-04-19
    Status: Issued
  • Japan
    Divisional (DIV) 2017-082965
    Filed on 2017-04-19
    Status: Abandoned
  • Israel
    Divisional (DIV) 254469
    Filed on 2017-09-13
    Status: Issued
  • US Patent 10,864,252
    Filed on 2018-10-29
    Status: Issued
  • European Patent
    Divisional (DIV) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued
  • Austria
    European patent (EP) 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • Belgium
    European patent (EP) 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • Switzerland
    European patent (EP) 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • Germany
    European patent (EP) 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • Spain
    European patent (EP) 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • France
    European patent (EP) 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • United Kingdom
    European patent (EP) 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • Ireland
    European patent (EP) 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • Italy
    European patent (EP) 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • The Netherlands
    European patent (EP) 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • Portugal
    European patent (EP) 11763819.7
    Filed on 2011-09-14
    Status: Issued
  • Israel
    Divisional (DIV) 271021
    Filed on 2019-11-28
    Status: Issued
  • Austria
    European patent (EP) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued
  • Belgium
    European patent (EP) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued
  • Switzerland
    European patent (EP) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued
  • Germany
    European patent (EP) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued
  • Spain
    European patent (EP) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued
  • France
    European patent (EP) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued
  • United Kingdom
    European patent (EP) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued
  • Ireland
    European patent (EP) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued
  • Italy
    European patent (EP) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued
  • The Netherlands
    European patent (EP) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued
  • Portugal
    European patent (EP) 19166061.2
    Filed on 2019-03-29
    Status: Issued

Publications

Collaborations

  • Licensing
  • Collaboration
Date Published