ESPEC-SUIT - A versatile and robust platform to identify and track antigen-specific T-cell receptors in cancer patients v1

ESPEC SUIT - epitope specific expansion cultures with subsequent identification of (tumor-)specific TCRs: ESPEC SUIT is a modular platform for identification of antigen-specific T cell clonotypes from peripheral blood. It makes use of in vitro expansion to amplify in vivo primed immune responses, which are then read-out by TCR repertoire analysis, paired with optional functional assays. Candidate antigen-reactive TCRs can be traced in blood and tissue samples based on their sequence to gain deep insight into e.g. tumor-specific or vaccine-induced T cell responses. We found that >75% of TCR candidates identified in ESPEC SUIT can be functionally validated (if optional single-cell sequencing and TCR cloning, not described herein, are performed). The supplied protocol describes the in vitro expansion, to be followed up by down-stream TCR repertoire analysis and discovery.