Immunological features of T cells induced by human telomerase reverse transcriptase-derived peptides in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Highlights • The safety and immunogenicity of hTERT-derived peptide (hTERT461 ) as a peptide vaccine to hepatocellular carcinoma was confirmed. • The post-vaccinated increase in hTERT461 peptide-specific T cells was due to the increase in cells with the effector memory phenotype. • We showed the possible efficacy of hTERT-derived peptide vaccine in preventing HCC recurrence after curative treatments. • We also succeeded in obtaining the hTERT-specific T cell receptors from hTERT461 peptide-specific T cells.