Definition

A cell therapy agent composed of autologous red blood cells (RBCs) engineered to act as artificial antigen carriers (AACs) and expressing tumor-specific antigens (TAAs), human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 epitopes, and containing a Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist as an activating adjuvant, with potential immunomodulating and antineoplastic activities. Using cell squeeze technology, the RBCs are squeezed (SQZ) and loaded with TAAs and an adjuvant to generate SQZ AACs that appear similar to aged RBCs. Upon administration of the SQZ RBCs expressing HPV16 epitopes SQZ-AAC-HPV, the SQZ RBCs are rapidly taken up by the patient’s professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) similar to the process of natural clearance and destruction of aged RBCs. In turn, the HPV16 epitopes are presented to the immune system and activate the immune system to mount a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) immune response against tumor cells expressing HPV16. By mimicking natural aged RBCs, the AACs are able to activate an anti-tumor immune response against the TAA-expressing tumor cells. HPV16 plays an important role in the development of certain types of cancer.