Definition

A preparation of polyclonal autologous CD8 positive T-lymphocytes specific for the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) T antigen (TAg) with potential antineoplastic activity. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from a Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) patient were obtained and antigen-specific CD8+ T cells targeting a specific MCPyV TAg epitope were derived and expanded ex vivo. Upon infusion of the MCPyV TAg-specific polyclonal autologous CD8-positive T cell vaccine, the T cells recognize the MCPyV antigen and exert a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response against the MCPyV TAg-expressing MCC cells. MCPyV is expressed in about 80% of MCC and is not expressed in normal, human tissue; the MCPyVTag oncoprotein plays a key role in MCC survival and tumor cell proliferation.