Patent Publication Number: US-2023159614-A1

Title: Hla class ii-restricted t cell receptors against ras with g12v mutation

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/981,856, filed Feb. 26, 2020, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     This invention was made with Government support under project number ZIABC010984 by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. The Government has certain rights in the invention. 
    
    
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY 
     Incorporated by reference in its entirety herein is a computer-readable nucleotide/amino acid sequence listing submitted concurrently herewith and identified as follows: One 266,276 Byte ASCII (Text) file named “751507_ST25.txt” dated Feb. 18, 2021. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Some cancers may have very limited treatment options, particularly when the cancer becomes metastatic and unresectable. Despite advances in treatments such as, for example, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, the prognosis for many cancers, such as, for example, pancreatic, colorectal, lung, endometrial, ovarian, and prostate cancers, may be poor. Accordingly, there exists an unmet need for additional treatments for cancer. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the invention provides an isolated or purified T-cell receptor (TCR) comprising the amino acid sequences of (a) SEQ ID NOs: 1-3, (b) SEQ ID NOs: 4-6, (c) SEQ ID NOs: 31-33, (d) SEQ ID NOs: 34-36, (e) SEQ ID NOs: 1-6, or (f) SEQ ID NOs: 31-36, wherein the TCR has antigenic specificity for a mutated human RAS amino acid sequence with a substitution of glycine at position 12 with valine, presented by a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class II molecule, and wherein the mutated human RAS amino acid sequence is a mutated human Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), a mutated human Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (HRAS), or a mutated human Neuroblastoma rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) amino acid sequence, and wherein position 12 is defined by reference to the wild-type human KRAS, wild-type human HRAS, or wild-type human NRAS protein, respectively. 
     Another embodiment of the invention provides an isolated or purified polypeptide comprising a functional portion of the inventive TCR, wherein the functional portion comprises the amino acid sequences of: (a) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3, (b) all of SEQ ID NOs: 4-6, (c) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-33, (d) all of SEQ ID NOs: 34-36, (e) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-6, or (f) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-36. 
     Still another embodiment of the invention provides an isolated or purified protein comprising at least one of the inventive polypeptides. 
     Further embodiments of the invention provide nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the inventive TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins. 
     An embodiment of the invention provides an isolated or purified nucleic acid comprising, from 5′ to 3′, a first nucleic acid sequence and a second nucleotide sequence, wherein the first and second nucleotide sequence, respectively, encode the amino sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8; 7 and 64; 63 and 8; 63 and 64; 7 and 65; 63 and 65; 7 and 66; 63 and 66; 8 and 7; 64 and 7; 8 and 63; 64 and 63; 65 and 7; 65 and 63; 66 and 7; 66 and 63; 129 and 8; 129 and 64; 129 and 65; 129 and 66; 8 and 129; 64 and 129; 65 and 129; 66 and 129; 130 and 8; 130 and 64; 130 and 65; 130 and 66; 8 and 130; 64 and 130; 65 and 130; 66 and 130; 37 and 38; 37 and 69; 37 and 70; 37 and 71; 38 and 37; 69 and 37; 70 and 37; 71 and 37; 23 and 24; 23 and 84; 83 and 24; 83 and 84; 23 and 87; 83 and 87; 23 and 90; 83 and 90; 24 and 23; 84 and 23; 24 and 83; 84 and 83; 87 and 23; 87 and 83; 90 and 23; 90 and 83; 133 and 24; 133 and 84; 133 and 87; 133 and 90; 24 and 133; 84 and 133; 87 and 133; 90 and 133; 39 and 40; 39 and 107; 39 and 112; 39 and 115; 40 and 39; 107 and 39; 112 and 39; 115 and 39; 136 and 24; 136 and 84; 136 and 87; 136 and 90; 24 and 136; 84 and 136; 87 and 136; 90 and 136; 21 and 22; 21 and 80; 79 and 22; 79 and 80; 21 and 85; 21 and 88; 79 and 85; 79 and 88; 22 and 21; 80 and 21; 22 and 79; 80 and 79; 85 and 21; 88 and 21; 85 and 79; 88 and 79; 131 and 22; 131 and 80; 131 and 85; 131 and 88; 22 and 131; 80 and 131; 85 and 131; 88 and 131; 134 and 22; 134 and 80; 134 and 85; 134 and 88; 22 and 134; 80 and 134; 85 and 134; 88 and 134; 77 and 78; 77 and 82; 81 and 78; 81 and 82; 77 and 86; 81 and 86; 78 and 77; 82 and 77; 78 and 81; 82 and 81; 86 and 77; 86 and 81; 132 and 78; 132 and 82; 132 and 86; 78 and 132; 82 and 132; 86 and 132; 135 and 78; 135 and 82; 135 and 86; 78 and 135; 82 and 135; 86 and 135; 77 and 89; 81 and 89; 89 and 77; 89 and 81; 132 and 89; 89 and 132; 135 and 89; 89 and 135; 41 and 42; 41 and 105; 41 and 110; 41 and 113; 42 and 41; 105 and 41; 110 and 41; 113 and 41; 103 and 104; 103 and 111; 103 and 114; 104 and 103; 111 and 103; 114 and 103; 103 and 106; 106 and 103; 47 and 48; 48 and 47; 67 and 68; 67 and 76; 68 and 67; 76 and 67; 49 and 50; 50 and 49; 72 and 73; 72 and 102; 73 and 72; 102 and 72; 51 and 52; 52 and 51; 53 and 54; 54 and 53; 55 and 56; 56 and 55; 57 and 58; 58 and 57; 91 and 92; 92 and 91; 108 and 109; 109 and 108; 93 and 94; 93 and 99; 94 and 93; 99 and 93; 97 and 98; 97 and 101; 98 and 97; 101 and 97; 95 and 96; 95 and 100; 96 and 95; 100 and 95; 116 and 117; 116 and 122; 117 and 116; 122 and 116; 120 and 121; 120 and 124; 121 and 120; 124 and 120; 118 and 119; 118 and 123; 119 and 118 or 123 and 118. 
     Methods of detecting the presence of cancer in a mammal, methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal, methods of inducing an immune response against a cancer in a mammal, methods of producing a host cell expressing a TCR that has antigenic specificity for the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 30, and methods of producing the inventive TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins, are further provided by embodiments of the invention. 
     Additional embodiments are as described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1 A  presents flow cytometry dot plots showing cell sorting during an in vitro stimulation (IVS) protocol for selection of T cells to expand. REP is rapid expansion protocol. 
         FIG.  1 B  presents flow cytometry dot plots showing cell sorting during an in vitro stimulation (IVS) protocol after selection and expansion of the T cells as shown in  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 C  is a graph showing the results of IFN-γ ELISpot analysis on cells sorted as shown in  FIG.  1 B . 
         FIG.  1 D  is a graph showing the results of analysis for 41BB/OX40 surface marker upregulation in cells sorted as shown in  FIG.  1 B . 
         FIG.  2 A  is a graph showing the results of IFN-γ ELISpot analysis on cells co-cultured with DC loaded with RAS G12V  LP or RAS WT  LP. 
         FIG.  2 B  is a graph showing the results of analysis for 41BB/OX40 surface marker upregulation in cells co-cultured with DC loaded with RAS G12V  LP or RAS WT  LP. 
         FIG.  3    is a graph showing IFN-γ ELISpot and 41BB/OX40 flow cytometry assay results used to identify the MHC-II restriction element recognized by the TCR. 
         FIG.  4 A  is a bar graph showing luciferase activity measured for a Jurkat-CD4-NFAT-Luciferase cell line and then co-cultured with DC loaded with RAS G12V , RAS WT  LP, or the equivalent amount of DMSO. 
         FIGS.  4 B and  4 C  are graphs showing TCR reactivity assessed by flow cytometry assay for 4-1BB and OX40 (% 4-1BB+/OX40+) expression of CD3 + /CD8 +  gated cells ( FIG.  4 B ) or CD3 + /CD4 +  gated cells ( FIG.  4 C ). (−) is untransduced. 
         FIG.  5 A  is a graph showing measurement of expression of 41BB and OX40 by flow cytometry of TIL of the indicated fragments stimulated by IVS and co-cultured with autologous DC pulsed with RAS G12V  LP peptide or RNA-transfected with RAS G12V  FL. Negative controls: T cells co-cultured alone, PBL cultured with DC loaded with DMSO. Positive controls: PBL cultured with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibody-conjugated Dynabeads. * indicates pooling of cells. 
         FIG.  5 B  presents IFN-γ ELISpot results used to identify the MHC-II restriction element recognized by the TIL. 
         FIG.  6    presents IFN-γ ELISpot results of TCRs 65-10 compared to TCR1. 
         FIGS.  7 A- 7 D  present graphs showing results of flow cytometry assays of 4-1BB and OX40 (% 4-1BB+/OX40+) expression of TCR1-transduced PBL gated to CD4 ( FIG.  7 A ) or to CD8 ( FIG.  7 B ) and TCRS-transduced PBLs gated to CD4 ( FIG.  7 C ) or to CD8 ( FIG.  7 D ). 
         FIGS.  7 E- 7 G  present graphs showing results of ELISPOT measurement of IFN-γ secretion for TCR1-transduced PBL enriched for CD4 cells ( FIG.  7 E ) or CD8 cells ( FIG.  7 F ) and TCRS-transduced PBL separated to CD4 or CD8 cells ( FIG.  7 G ). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     RAS family proteins belong to the large family of small GTPases. Without being bound to a particular theory or mechanism, it is believed that, when mutated, RAS proteins may be involved in signal transduction early in the oncogenesis of many human cancers. A single amino acid substitution may activate the protein. The mutated RAS protein product may be constitutively activated. Mutated RAS proteins may be expressed in any of a variety of human cancers such as, for example, pancreatic (e.g., pancreatic carcinoma), colorectal, lung (e.g., lung adenocarcinoma), endometrial, ovarian (e.g., epithelial ovarian cancer), and prostate cancers. The human RAS family proteins include Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (HRAS), and Neuroblastoma rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (NRAS). 
     KRAS is also referred to as GTPase KRas, V-Ki-Ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene, or KRAS2. There are two transcript variants of KRAS: KRAS variant A and KRAS variant B. Wild-type (WT) KRAS variant A has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9. Wild-type (WT) KRAS variant B has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10. Hereinafter, references to “KRAS” (mutated or unmutated (WT)) refer to both variant A and variant B, unless specified otherwise. When activated, mutated KRAS binds to guanosine-5′-triphosphate (GTP) and converts GTP to guanosine 5′-diphosphate (GDP). 
     HRAS is another member of the RAS protein family. HRAS is also referred to as Harvey Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncoprotein, V-Ha-Ras Harvey Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog, or Ras Family Small GTP Binding Protein H-Ras. WT HRAS has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11. 
     NRAS is still another member of the RAS protein family. NRAS is also referred to as GTPase NRas, V-Ras Neuroblastoma RAS Viral Oncogene Homolog, or NRAS1. WT NRAS has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12. 
     An embodiment of the invention provides an isolated or purified TCR having antigenic specificity for a mutated human RAS amino acid sequence with a substitution of glycine at position 12 with valine (hereinafter, “mutated RAS”) presented by a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class II molecule, wherein the mutated human RAS amino acid sequence is a mutated human KRAS, a mutated human HRAS, or a mutated human NRAS amino acid sequence, and wherein position 12 is defined by reference to the WT human KRAS, WT human HRAS, or WT human NRAS protein, respectively. Hereinafter, references to a “TCR” also refer to functional portions and functional variants of the TCR, unless specified otherwise. 
     The inventive TCR may have antigenic specificity for any mutated human RAS protein, polypeptide or peptide amino acid sequence. In embodiments of the invention, the mutated human RAS amino acid sequence is a mutated human KRAS amino acid sequence, a mutated human HRAS amino acid sequence, or a mutated human NRAS amino acid sequence. The amino acid sequences of WT human KRAS, NRAS, and HRAS protein each have a length of 188-189 amino acid residues and have a high degree of identity to one another. For example, the amino acid sequence of the WT human NRAS protein is 86.8% identical to that of the WT human KRAS protein. Amino acid residues 1-86 of the WT human NRAS protein and the WT human KRAS protein are 100% identical. The amino acid sequence of the WT human HRAS protein is 86.3% identical to that of the WT human KRAS protein. Amino acid residues 1-94 of the WT human HRAS protein and the WT human KRAS protein are 100% identical. Hereinafter, references to “RAS” (mutated or unmutated (WT)) collectively refer to KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS, unless specified otherwise. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the mutated human RAS amino acid sequence comprises a WT RAS amino acid sequence with a substitution of glycine at position 12, wherein position 12 is defined by reference to the WT RAS protein, respectively. The WT RAS protein may be any of WT KRAS protein (SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10), WT HRAS protein (SEQ ID NO: 11), or WT NRAS protein (SEQ ID NO: 12) because, as explained above, amino acid residues 1-86 of the WT human NRAS protein and the WT human KRAS protein are 100% identical, and amino acid residues 1-94 of the WT human HRAS protein and the WT human KRAS protein are 100% identical. Accordingly, the amino acid residue at position 12 of each of WT KRAS, WT HRAS, and WT NRAS protein is the same, namely, glycine. 
     The glycine at position 12 of the WT RAS amino acid sequence may be substituted with any amino acid residue other than glycine. In embodiments of the invention, the substitution is a substitution of glycine at position 12 of the WT RAS amino acid sequence with valine. In this regard, embodiments of the invention provide TCRs with antigenic specificity for any WT RAS protein, polypeptide or peptide amino acid sequence with a G12V mutation. 
     Mutations and substitutions of RAS are defined herein by reference to the amino acid sequence of WT RAS protein. Thus, mutations and substitutions of RAS are described herein by reference to the amino acid residue present at a particular position in WT RAS protein, followed by the position number, followed by the amino acid residue with which that residue has been replaced in the particular mutation or substitution under discussion. A RAS amino acid sequence (e.g., a RAS peptide) may comprise fewer than all of the amino acid residues of the full-length, WT RAS protein. Accordingly, position 12 is defined herein by reference to the WT full-length RAS protein (namely, any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-12) with the understanding that the actual position of the corresponding residue in a particular example of a RAS amino acid sequence may be different. When the positions are as defined by any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-12, the term “G12” refers to the glycine normally present at position 12 of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-12, and “G12V” indicates that the glycine normally present at position 12 of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-12 is replaced by a valine. For example, when a particular example of a RAS amino acid sequence is, e.g., TEYKLVVVGA G GVGKSALTIQLI (SEQ ID NO: 28) (an exemplary WT KRAS peptide corresponding to contiguous amino acid residues 2 to 24 of SEQ ID NO: 9), “G12V” refers to a substitution of the underlined glycine in SEQ ID NO: 28 with valine, even though the actual position of the underlined glycine in SEQ ID NO: 28 is 11. Human RAS amino acid sequences with the G12V mutation are hereinafter referred to as “G12V RAS”. 
     Examples of full-length RAS proteins with the G12V mutation are set forth in Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Mutated Full-Length RAS Protein 
                 SEQ ID NO: 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 G12V KRAS variant A 
                 13 
               
               
                   
                 G12V KRAS variant B 
                 14 
               
               
                   
                 G12V HRAS 
                 15 
               
               
                   
                 G12V NRAS 
                 16 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In embodiments of the invention, the TCR has antigenic specificity for a RAS peptide with the G12V mutation described above, wherein the mutated RAS peptide has any length. In embodiments of the invention, the mutated RAS peptide has any length suitable for binding to any of the HLA Class II molecules described herein. For example, the TCR may have antigenic specificity for a RAS peptide with the G12V mutation, the RAS peptide having a length of about 24 amino acid residues. The mutated RAS peptide may comprise any contiguous amino acid residues of mutated RAS protein which include the G12V mutation. In embodiments of the invention, the TCR may have antigenic specificity for a RAS peptide with the G12V mutation, the mutated RAS peptide having a length of about 24 amino acid residues. An example of a specific peptide with the G12V which may be recognized by the inventive G12V TCR is 24-mer MTEYKLVVVGAVGVGKSALTIQLI (SEQ ID NO: 30), of which SEQ ID NO: 27 is the WT version of the peptide. In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR has antigenic specificity for the mutated human RAS amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30. In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR does not have antigenic specificity for the wild-type human RAS amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27. Without wishing to be bound by theory, the 24-mer of SEQ ID NO: 30 may be processed and presented in smaller segments. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the inventive TCRs are able to recognize mutated RAS presented by an HLA Class II molecule. In this regard, the TCR may elicit an immune response upon binding to mutated RAS within the context of an HLA Class II molecule. The inventive TCRs may bind to the HLA Class II molecule in addition to mutated RAS. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the HLA Class II molecule is an HLA-DP molecule. The HLA-DP molecule is a heterodimer of an α chain (DPA) and β chain (DPB). The HLA-DPA chain may be any HLA-DPA chain. The HLA-DPB chain may be any HLA-DPB chain. In an embodiment of the invention, the HLA Class II molecule is a heterodimer of an HLA-DPA1 chain and an HLA-DPB1 chain. Examples of HLA-DPA1 molecules may include, but are not limited to, those encoded by the HLA-DPA1*01:03 or 02:02 alleles. Examples of HLA-DPB1 molecules may include, but are not limited to, those encoded by the HLA-DPB1*03:01 alleles. Preferably, the HLA Class II molecule is a heterodimer of an HLA-DPA1*01:03 or 02:02 chain and an HLA-DPB1*03:01 chain. 
     The TCRs of the invention may provide any one or more of a variety of advantages, including when expressed by cells used for adoptive cell transfer. Mutated RAS is expressed by cancer cells and is not expressed by normal, noncancerous cells. Without being bound to a particular theory or mechanism, it is believed that the inventive TCRs advantageously target the destruction of cancer cells while minimizing or eliminating the destruction of normal, non-cancerous cells, thereby reducing toxicity. Moreover, the inventive TCRs may, advantageously, successfully treat or prevent mutated RAS-positive cancers that do not respond to other types of treatment such as, for example, chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation. The RAS G12  mutations are among the most common hotspot mutations found in many cancer types. For example, the KRAS G12V mutation is expressed in about 27% and about 9% of patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancers, respectively. Moreover, RAS family members share the G12 hotspot mutation in different cancer types (e.g. NRAS in melanoma). Additionally, the inventive TCRs may provide highly avid recognition of mutated RAS, which may provide the ability to recognize unmanipulated tumor cells (e.g., tumor cells that have not been treated with interferon (IFN)-γ, transfected with a vector encoding one or both of mutated RAS and HLA-DPB1*03:01, pulsed with a RAS peptide with the G12V mutation, or a combination thereof). Moreover, the HLA-DPB1*03:01 allele is expressed in approximately 19% in the Caucasian ethnicity in the United States. Accordingly, the inventive TCRs may increase the number of immunotherapy-eligible cancer patients to include those patients that express the HLA-DPB1*03:01 allele who may not be eligible for immunotherapy using TCRs that recognize RAS presented by other MHC molecules. Moreover, the inventive TCRs, polypeptides and proteins comprise human amino acid sequences, which may reduce the risk of rejection by the human immune system as compared to, e.g., TCRs, polypeptides and proteins comprising mouse amino acid sequences. 
     The phrase “antigenic specificity,” as used herein, means that the TCR can specifically bind to and immunologically recognize mutated RAS with high avidity. For example, a TCR may be considered to have “antigenic specificity” for mutated RAS if about 1×10 4  to about 1×10 5  T cells expressing the TCR secrete at least about 200 pg/mL or more (e.g., 200 pg/mL or more, 300 pg/mL or more, 400 pg/mL or more, 500 pg/mL or more, 600 pg/mL or more, 700 pg/mL or more, 1000 pg/mL or more, 5,000 pg/mL or more, 7,000 pg/mL or more, 10,000 pg/mL or more, 20,000 pg/mL or more, or a range defined by any two of the foregoing values) of IFN-γ upon co-culture with (a) antigen-negative, HLA Class II molecule positive target cells pulsed with a low concentration of mutated RAS peptide (e.g., about 0.05 ng/mL to about 10 ng/mL, 1 ng/mL, 2 ng/mL, 5 ng/mL, 8 ng/mL, 10 ng/mL, or a range defined by any two of the foregoing values) or (b) antigen-negative, HLA Class II molecule positive target cells into which a nucleotide sequence encoding mutated RAS has been introduced such that the target cell expresses mutated RAS. Cells expressing the inventive TCRs may also secrete IFN-γ upon co-culture with antigen-negative, HLA Class II molecule positive target cells pulsed with higher concentrations of mutated RAS peptide. The HLA Class II molecule may be any of the HLA Class II molecules described herein (e.g., an HLA-DPB1*03:01 molecule). 
     Alternatively or additionally, a TCR may be considered to have “antigenic specificity” for mutated RAS if T cells expressing the TCR secrete at least twice as much IFN-γ upon co-culture with (a) antigen-negative, HLA Class II molecule positive target cells pulsed with a low concentration of mutated RAS peptide or (b) antigen-negative, HLA Class II molecule positive target cells into which a nucleotide sequence encoding mutated RAS has been introduced such that the target cell expresses mutated RAS as compared to the amount of IFN-γ expressed by a negative control. The negative control may be, for example, (i) T cells expressing the TCR, co-cultured with (a) antigen-negative, HLA Class II molecule positive target cells pulsed with the same concentration of an irrelevant peptide (e.g., some other peptide with a different sequence from the mutated RAS peptide) or (b) antigen-negative, HLA Class II molecule positive target cells into which a nucleotide sequence encoding an irrelevant peptide has been introduced such that the target cell expresses the irrelevant peptide, or (ii) untransduced T cells (e.g., derived from PBMC, which do not express the TCR) co-cultured with (a) antigen-negative, HLA Class II molecule positive target cells pulsed with the same concentration of mutated RAS peptide or (b) antigen-negative, HLA Class II molecule positive target cells into which a nucleotide sequence encoding mutated RAS has been introduced such that the target cell expresses mutated RAS. The HLA Class II molecule expressed by the target cells of the negative control would be the same HLA Class II molecule expressed by the target cells that are co-cultured with the T cells being tested. The HLA Class II molecule may be any of the HLA Class II molecules described herein (e.g., an HLA-DPB1*03:01 molecule). IFN-γ secretion may be measured by methods known in the art such as, for example, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 
     Alternatively or additionally, a TCR may be considered to have “antigenic specificity” for mutated RAS if at least twice as many of the numbers of T cells expressing the TCR secrete IFN-γ upon co-culture with (a) antigen-negative, HLA Class II molecule positive target cells pulsed with a low concentration of mutated RAS peptide or (b) antigen-negative, HLA Class II molecule positive target cells into which a nucleotide sequence encoding mutated RAS has been introduced such that the target cell expresses mutated RAS as compared to the numbers of negative control T cells that secrete IFN-γ. The HLA Class II molecule, concentration of peptide, and the negative control may be as described herein with respect to other aspects of the invention. The numbers of cells secreting IFN-γ may be measured by methods known in the art such as, for example, ELISPOT. 
     Alternatively or additionally, a TCR may be considered to have “antigenic specificity” for mutated RAS if T cells expressing the TCR upregulate expression of one or more T-cell activation markers as measured by, for example, flow cytometry after stimulation with target cells expressing mutated RAS. Examples of T-cell activation markers include 4-1BB, OX40, CD107a, CD69, and cytokines that are upregulated upon antigen stimulation (e.g., tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-2, etc.). 
     An embodiment of the invention provides a TCR comprising two polypeptides (i.e., polypeptide chains), such as an alpha (α) chain of a TCR, a beta (β) chain of a TCR, a gamma (γ) chain of a TCR, a delta (δ) chain of a TCR, or a combination thereof. The polypeptides of the inventive TCR can comprise any amino acid sequence, provided that the TCR has antigenic specificity for mutated RAS. In some embodiments, the TCR is non-naturally occurring. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR comprises two polypeptide chains, each of which comprises a variable region comprising a complementarity determining region (CDR)1, a CDR2, and a CDR3 of a TCR. In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR comprises a first polypeptide chain comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 (CDR1 of α chain), a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 (CDR2 of α chain), and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 (CDR3 of α chain), and a second polypeptide chain comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 (CDR1 of β chain), a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 (CDR2 of β chain), and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 (CDR3 of β chain). 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the TCR comprises a first polypeptide chain comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31 (CDR1 of α chain), a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32 (CDR2 of α chain), and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 33 (CDR3 of α chain), and a second polypeptide chain comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 34 (CDR1 of β chain), a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 35 (CDR2 of β chain), and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 36 (CDR3 of β chain). 
     In this regard, the inventive TCR can comprise any one or more of the amino acid sequences selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-6 and 31-36. In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR comprises the amino acid sequences of: (a) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3, (b) all of SEQ ID NOs: 4-6, (c) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-33, (d) all of SEQ ID NOs: 34-36, (e) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-6, or (f) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-36. In an especially preferred embodiment, the TCR comprises the amino acid sequences of: (i) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-6 or (ii) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-36. 
     The CDR3 of any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 6, 33, or 36, i.e., of the α chain or β chain or both, may further comprise a cysteine immediately N-terminal to the first amino acid of the CDR or a phenylalanine immediately C-terminal to the final amino acid or both. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprises an amino acid sequence of a variable region of a TCR comprising the CDRs set forth above. The TCR may comprise a human variable region, e.g., a human α chain variable region and a human β chain variable region. In this regard, the TCR can comprise the amino acid sequence of: SEQ ID NO: 7 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain with WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 129 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain with alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 8 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain with variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 37 (variable region of 4360 TCRS α chain with WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 38 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain with variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 47 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using IMGT); SEQ ID NO: 48 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using IMGT); SEQ ID NO: 49 (variable region of 4360 TCRS α chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using IMGT); SEQ ID NO: 50 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using IMGT); SEQ ID NO: 63 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain with variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 130 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain with alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 64 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain with WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 67 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); SEQ ID NO: 68 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); SEQ ID NO: 72 (variable region of 4360 TCRS α chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); SEQ ID NO: 73 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); SEQ ID NO: 65 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain with alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 66 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain with alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 69 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain with alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 70 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 71 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain with alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 76 (alternate variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); SEQ ID NO: 102 (alternate variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8; both of SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 8; both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 8; both of SEQ ID NOs: 130 and 8; both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 64; both of SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 64; both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 64; both of SEQ ID NOs: 130 and 64; both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 65; both of SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 65; both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 65; both of SEQ ID NOs: 130 and 65; both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 66; both of SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 66; both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 66; both of SEQ ID NOs: 130 and 66; both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38; both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 69; both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 70; both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 71; both of SEQ ID NOs: 47 and 48; both of SEQ ID NOs: 67 and 68; both of SEQ ID NOs: 67 and 76; both of SEQ ID NOs: 49 and 50; both of SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 73; or both of SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 102. Preferably, the TCR comprises the amino acid sequences of (i) both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8; (ii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 64; (iii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 65; (iv) both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 66; (v) both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38; (vi) both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 70; (vii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 47 and 48; (viii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 67 and 68; (ix) both of SEQ ID NOs: 67 and 76; (x) both of SEQ ID NOs: 49 and 50; (xi) both of SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 73; or (xii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 102. 
     The inventive TCRs may further comprise an α chain constant region and a β chain constant region. The constant region may be derived from any suitable species such as, e.g., human or mouse. In embodiments of the invention, the TCRs further comprise murine α and β chain constant regions or human α and β chain constant regions. As used herein, the term “murine” or “human,” when referring to a TCR or any component of a TCR described herein (e.g., complementarity determining region (CDR), variable region, constant region, a chain, and/or β chain), means a TCR (or component thereof) which is derived from a mouse or a human, respectively, i.e., a TCR (or component thereof) that originated from or was, at one time, expressed by a mouse T cell or a human T cell, respectively. 
     An embodiment of the invention provides a chimeric TCR comprising a human variable region and a murine constant region, wherein the TCR has antigenic specificity for a mutated human RAS amino acid sequence presented by an HLA Class II molecule. The murine constant region may provide any one or more advantages. For example, the murine constant region may diminish mispairing of the inventive TCR with endogenous TCRs of the host cell into which the inventive TCR is introduced. Alternatively or additionally, the murine constant region may increase expression of the inventive TCR as compared to the same TCR with a human constant region. The chimeric TCR may comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 (wild-type (WT) murine α chain constant region), SEQ ID NO: 20 (WT murine β chain constant region), the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 74 (variant murine α chain constant region), SEQ ID NO: 75 (variant murine β chain constant region), or both SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20 or 74 and 75. Preferably, the inventive TCR comprises the amino acid sequences of both of SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20 or 74 and 75. The chimeric TCR may comprise any of the murine constant regions described herein in combination with any of the CDR regions as described herein with respect to other aspects of the invention. In this regard, the TCR, e.g., may comprise the amino acid sequences of: (a) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3 and 19; (b) all of SEQ ID NOs: 4-6 and 20; (c) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3 and 74; (d) all of SEQ ID NOs: 4-6 and 75; (e) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-33 and 19; (f) all of SEQ ID NOs: 34-36 and 20; (g) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-33 and 74; (h) all of SEQ ID NOs: 34-36 and 75; (i) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-6 and 19-20; (j) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-6 and 74-75; (k) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-36 and 19-20; or (l) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-36 and 74-75. In another embodiment of the invention, the chimeric TCR may comprise any of the murine constant regions described herein in combination with any of the variable regions described herein with respect to other aspects of the invention. In this regard, the TCR, e.g., may comprise the amino acid sequences of: (i) both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 19; (ii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 19; (iii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 8 and 20; (iv) both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 74; (v) both of SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 74; (vi) both of SEQ ID NOs: 8 and 75; (vii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 19; (viii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 38 and 20; (ix) both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 74; (x) both of SEQ ID NOs: 38 and 75; (xi) all of SEQ ID NOs: 7-8 and 19-20; (xii) all of SEQ ID NOs: 129, 8 and 19-20; (xiii) all of SEQ ID NOs: 37-38 and 19-20; (xiv) all of SEQ ID NOs: 7-8 and 74-75; (xv) all of SEQ ID NOs: 129, 8 and 74-75; or (xvi) all of SEQ ID NOs: 37-38 and 74-75. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the TCR comprises the amino acid sequence(s) of: SEQ ID NO: 23 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 133 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 24 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 39 (α chain of 4360 TCRS with WT murine constant region and WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 40 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT murine constant region and variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 51 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), SEQ ID NO: 52 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), SEQ ID NO: 53 (α chain of 4360 TCRS with WT murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), SEQ ID NO: 54 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), SEQ ID NO: 77 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with substituted murine constant region and WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 132 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with substituted murine constant region and alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 78 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 81 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with substituted murine constant region and variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 135 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with substituted murine constant region and alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 82 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with substituted murine constant region and WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 83 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 136 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 84 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 91 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with substituted murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), SEQ ID NO: 92 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with substituted murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), SEQ ID NO: 95 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with substituted murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), SEQ ID NO: 96 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with substituted murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), SEQ ID NO: 97 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), SEQ ID NO: 98 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), SEQ ID NO: 86 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with substituted murine constant region and alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 87 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 89 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with substituted murine constant region and alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 90 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 100 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCR1 with substitited murine constant region and without an N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), SEQ ID NO: 101 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT murine constant region and without an N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), SEQ ID NO: 103 (α chain of 4360 TCRS with substituted murine constant region and WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 104 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with substituted murine constant region and variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 106 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with substituted murine constant region and WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 107 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT murine constant region and WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 108 (α chain of 4360 TCRS with substituted murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), SEQ ID NO: 109 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with substituted murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), SEQ ID NO: 118 (α chain of 4360 TCRS with substituted murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), SEQ ID NO: 119 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with substituted murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), SEQ ID NO: 120 (α chain of 4360 TCRS with WT murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), SEQ ID NO: 121 (θ chain of 4360 TCRS with WT murine constant region and without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), SEQ ID NO: 111 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with substituted murine constant region and alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 112 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT murine constant region and alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 114 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with substituted murine constant region and alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 115 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT murine constant region and alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide), SEQ ID NO: 123 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCRS with substitited murine constant region and without an N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), SEQ ID NO: 124 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT murine constant region and without an N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), both of SEQ ID NO: 23-24, both of SEQ ID NO: 133-24, both of SEQ ID NO: 39-40, both of SEQ ID NO: 51-52, both of SEQ ID NO: 53-54, both of SEQ ID NO: 77-78, both of SEQ ID NO: 132-78, both of SEQ ID NO: 81-82, both of SEQ ID NO: 135-82, both of SEQ ID NO: 83-84, both of SEQ ID NO: 136-84, both of SEQ ID NO: 91-92, both of SEQ ID NO: 95-96, both of SEQ ID NO: 97-98, both of SEQ ID NO: 103-104, both of SEQ ID NO: 108-109, both of SEQ ID NO: 118-119, both of SEQ ID NO: 120-121, both of SEQ ID NO: 23 and 90, SEQ ID NO: 133 and 90, both of SEQ ID NO: 23 and 87, both of SEQ ID NO: 133 and 87, both of SEQ ID NO: 83 and 90, both of SEQ ID NO: 136 and 90, both of SEQ ID NO: 83 and 87, both of SEQ ID NO: 136 and 87, both of SEQ ID NO: 77 and 86, both of SEQ ID NO: 132 and 86, both of SEQ ID NO: 77 and 89, both of SEQ ID NO: 132 and 89, both of SEQ ID NO: 81 and 89, both of SEQ ID NO: 135 and 89, both of SEQ ID NO: 81 and 86, both of SEQ ID NO: 135 and 86, both of SEQ ID NO: 97 and 101, both of SEQ ID NO: 95 and 100, both of SEQ ID NO: 39 and 106, both of SEQ ID NO: 39 and 112, both of SEQ ID NO: 39 and 115, both of SEQ ID NO: 103 and 107, both of SEQ ID NO: 103 and 111, both of SEQ ID NO: 103 and 114, both of SEQ ID NO: 120 and 124, or both of SEQ ID NO: 118 and 123. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprises an α chain comprising a variable region and a constant region and a β chain comprising a variable region and a constant region. In this regard, the TCR, e.g., may comprise (a) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with wid type N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 179 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 243 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 245 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (b) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 131 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with wid type N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 180 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 244 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 247 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (c) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 198 of SEQ ID NO: 22 is Ser or Cys; (d) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41 (α chain of 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 179 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 243 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 245 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (e) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 42 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 197 of SEQ ID NO: 42 is Ser or Cys; (f) both (a) and (c); (g) both (b) and (c); (h) both (d) and (e); (i) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 55 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein: (i) X at position 160 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 224 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 226 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 227 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (j) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein X at position 173 of SEQ ID NO: 56 is Ser or Cys; (k) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 57 (α chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein: (i) X at position 159 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 223 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 225 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 226 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (l) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 58 (β chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein X at position 172 of SEQ ID NO: 58 is Ser or Cys; (m) both (i) and (j); (n) both (k) and (l); (o) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 79 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 179 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 243 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 245 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (p) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 134 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 180 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 244 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 247 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (q) a 13 chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 80 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 198 of SEQ ID NO: 80 is Ser or Cys; (r) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 105 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 197 of SEQ ID NO: 105 is Ser or Cys; (s) both (o) and (q); (t) both (p) and (q); (u) both (d) and (r); (v) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 93 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein: (i) X at position 159 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 223 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 225 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 226 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (w) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 94 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 177 of SEQ ID NO: 94 is Ser or Cys; (x) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 116 (α chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein: (i) X at position 158 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 222 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 224 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 225 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (y) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 117 (β chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 176 of SEQ ID NO: 117 is Ser or Cys; (z) both (v) and (w); (aa) both (x) and (y); (bb) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 85 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 187 of SEQ ID NO: 85 is Ser or Cys; (cc) a 13 chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 88 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 187 of SEQ ID NO: 88 is Ser or Cys; (dd) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 99 (alternate (3 chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 172 of SEQ ID NO: 99 is Ser or Cys; (ee) both (a) and (bb); (ff) both (b) and (bb); (gg) both (o) and (cc); (hh) both (p) and (cc); (ii) both (v) and (dd); (jj) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 110 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCRS with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 186 of SEQ ID NO: 110 is Ser or Cys; (kk) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 113 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 186 of SEQ ID NO: 113 is Ser or Cys; (ll) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 122 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 171 of SEQ ID NO: 122 is Ser or Cys; (mm) both (d) and (jj); (nn) both (d) and (kk); or (oo) both (x) and (ll). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 21 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 23 (unsubstituted α chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 131 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 133 (unsubstituted α chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 22 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 24 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 41 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 39 (unsubstituted α chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 42 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 40 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 55 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 51 (unsubstituted α chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 56 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 52 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 57 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 53 (unsubstituted α chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 58 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 54 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 79 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 83 (unsubstituted α chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 134 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 136 (unsubstituted α chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 80 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 84 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 93 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 97 (unsubstituted α chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 94 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 98 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 85 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 87 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 88 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 90 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 99 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 101 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 116 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 120 (unsubstituted α chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 117 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 121 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 105 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 107 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 110 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 112 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 113 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 115 (unsubstituted β chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 122 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 124 (unsubstituted β chain). 
     The first amino acid of any of the mouse alpha constant regions described herein may be different from N as provided in SEQ ID NOS: 17 and 19. For example, in any TCR construct, polypeptide, protein, etc., as described herein, this first amino acid can be encoded by a split codon (having nucleotides from both a variable region and a constant region) such that any of the murine alpha constant regions may have a different amino acid at that position. Similarly, the first amino acid of any of the mouse beta constant regions described herein may be different from E as provided in SEQ ID NOS: 18 and 20, e.g., this first amino acid can be encoded by a split codon. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprises a substituted constant region. In this regard, the TCR, e.g., may comprise the amino acid sequence of any of the TCRs described herein with one, two, three, or four amino acid substitution(s) in the constant region of one or both of the α and β chain. Preferably, the TCR comprises a murine constant region with one, two, three, or four amino acid substitution(s) in the murine constant region of one or both of the α and β chains. In an especially preferred embodiment, the TCR comprises a murine constant region with one, two, three, or four amino acid substitution(s) in the murine constant region of the α chain and one amino acid substitution in the murine constant region of the β chain. In some embodiments, the TCRs comprising the substituted constant region advantageously provide one or more of increased recognition of mutated RAS&#39; targets, increased expression by a host cell, diminished mispairing with endogenous TCRs, and increased anti-tumor activity as compared to the parent TCR comprising an unsubstituted (wild-type) constant region. In general, the substituted amino acid sequences of the murine constant regions of the TCR a and β chains, SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18, respectively, correspond with all or portions of the unsubstituted murine constant region amino acid sequences SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20, respectively, with SEQ ID NO: 17 having one, two, three, or four amino acid substitution(s) when compared to SEQ ID NO: 19 and SEQ ID NO: 18 having one amino acid substitution when compared to SEQ ID NO: 20. In this regard, an embodiment of the invention provides a TCR comprising the amino acid sequences of (a) SEQ ID NO: 17 (constant region of α chain), wherein (i) X at position 48 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 112 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 114 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 115 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (b) SEQ ID NO: 18 (constant region of β chain), wherein X at position 57 is Ser or Cys; or (c) both of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18. In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 17 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 19 (unsubstituted murine constant region of α chain). In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprising SEQ ID NO: 18 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 20 (unsubstituted murine constant region of β chain). 
     In embodiments of the invention, the substituted constant region includes cysteine substitutions in the constant region of one or both of the α and β chains to provide a cysteine-substituted TCR. Opposing cysteines in the α and the β chains provide a disulfide bond that links the constant regions of the α and the β chains of the substituted TCR to one another and which is not present in a TCR comprising the unsubstituted murine constant regions. In this regard, the TCR may be a cysteine-substituted TCR in which one or both of the native Thr at position 48 (Thr48) of SEQ ID NO: 19 and the native Ser at position 57 (Ser57) of SEQ ID NO: 20 may be substituted with Cys. Preferably, both of the native Thr48 of SEQ ID NO: 19 and the native Ser57 of SEQ ID NO: 20 are substituted with Cys. Examples of cysteine-substituted TCR constant regions sequences are set forth in Table 2. In embodiments of the invention, the cysteine-substituted TCR comprises (i) SEQ ID NO: 17, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 18, or (iii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18, wherein both of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18 are as defined in Table 2. The cysteine-substituted TCRs of the invention may include the substituted constant region in addition to any of the CDRs or variable regions described herein. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the cysteine-substituted, chimeric TCR comprises a full length alpha chain and a full-length beta chain. Examples of cysteine-substituted, chimeric TCR alpha chain and beta chain sequences are set forth in Table 2. In embodiments of the invention, the TCR comprises (i) SEQ ID NO: 21, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 131, (iii) SEQ ID NO: 22, (iv) SEQ ID NO: 41, (v) SEQ ID NO: 42, (vi) both of SEQ ID NO: 21 and 22, (vii) both of SEQ ID NO: 131 and 22, (viii) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 42, (ix) SEQ ID NO: 55, (x) SEQ ID NO: 56, (xi) SEQ ID NO: 57, (xii) SEQ ID NO: 58, (xiii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 55 and 56, or (xiv) both of SEQ ID NOs: 57 and 58, (xv) SEQ ID NO: 79, (xvi) SEQ ID NO: 134, (xvii) SEQ ID NO: 80, (xviii) SEQ ID NO: 105, (xix) both of SEQ ID NO: 79 and 80, (xx) both of SEQ ID NO: 134 and 80, (xxi) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 105, (xxii) SEQ ID NO: 93, (xxiii) SEQ ID NO: 94, (xxiv) SEQ ID NO: 116, (xxv) SEQ ID NO: 117, (xxvi) both of SEQ ID NO: 93 and 94, (xxvii) both of SEQ ID NO: 116 and 117, (xxviii) SEQ ID NO: 85, (xxix) SEQ ID NO: 88, (xxx) SEQ ID NO: 99, (xxxi) both of SEQ ID NO: 21 and 85, (xxxii) both of SEQ ID NO: 131 and 85, (xxxiii) both of SEQ ID NO: 79 and 88, (xxxiv) both of SEQ ID NO: 134 and 88, (xxxv) both of SEQ ID NO: 93 and 99, (xxxvi) SEQ ID NO: 110, (xxxvii) SEQ ID NO: 113, (xxxviii) SEQ ID NO: 122, (xxxix) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 110, (xl) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 113, (xli) both of SEQ ID NO: 116 and 122, wherein all of SEQ ID NOs: 17, 18, 21, 22, 41, 42, 55-58, 79, 80, 85, 88, 93, 94, 99, 105, 110, 113, 116, 117, 122, 131 and 134 are as defined in Table 2. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 
                 Definitions of “X” in some embodiments 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 17 
                 X at position 48 is Cys, 
               
               
                 (constant region α chain) 
                 X at position 112 is Ser, 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 114 is Met, and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 115 is Gly. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 18 
                 X at position 57 is Cys 
               
               
                 (constant region β chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 21 
                 X at position 179 is Cys, 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain with 
                 X at position 243 is Ser, 
               
               
                 WT N-terminal signal 
                 X at position 245 is Met, and 
               
               
                 peptide) 
                 X at position 246 is Gly. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 131 
                 X at position 180 is Cys, 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain with 
                 X at position 244 is Ser, 
               
               
                 alternate WT N-terminal 
                 X at position 246 is Met, and 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
                 X at position 247 is Gly. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 22 
                 X at position 198 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain with 
               
               
                 variant N-terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 85 
                 X at position 187 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR1 β 
               
               
                 chain with variant N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 79 
                 X at position 179 is Cys, 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain with 
                 X at position 243 is Ser, 
               
               
                 variant N-terminal signal 
                 X at position 245 is Met, and 
               
               
                 peptide) 
                 X at position 246 is Gly. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 134 
                 X at position 180 is Cys, 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain with 
                 X at position 244 is Ser, 
               
               
                 alternate variant N- 
                 X at position 246 is Met, and 
               
               
                 terminal signal peptide) 
                 X at position 247 is Gly. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 80 
                 X at position 198 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain with 
               
               
                 WT N-terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 88 
                 X at position 187 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR1 β 
               
               
                 chain with WT N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 41 
                 X at position 179 is Cys, 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 α chain with 
                 X at position 243 is Ser, 
               
               
                 WT N-terminal signal 
                 X at position 245 is Met, and 
               
               
                 peptide) 
                 X at position 246 is Gly. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO:42 
                 X at position 197 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain with 
               
               
                 variant N-terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 110 
                 X at position 186 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR5 β 
               
               
                 chain with variant N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 105 
                 X at position 197 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain with 
               
               
                 WT N-terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 113 
                 X at position 186 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR5 β 
               
               
                 chain with WT N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 55 
                 X at position 160 is Cys, 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 224 is Ser, 
               
               
                 without N-terminal signal 
                 X at position 226 is Met, and 
               
               
                 peptide as predicted with 
                 X at position 227 is Gly. 
               
               
                 IMGT) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 56 
                 X at position 173 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide as predicted with 
               
               
                 IMGT) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 57 
                 X at position 159 is Cys, 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 α chain 
                 X at position 223 is Ser, 
               
               
                 without N-terminal signal 
                 X at position 225 is Met, and 
               
               
                 peptide as predicted with 
                 X at position 226 is Gly. 
               
               
                 IMGT) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 58 
                 X at position 172 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide as predicted with 
               
               
                 IMGT) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 93 
                 X at position 159 is Cys, 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 223 is Ser, 
               
               
                 without N-terminal signal 
                 X at position 225 is Met, and 
               
               
                 peptide as predicted with 
                 X at position 226 is Gly. 
               
               
                 SignalP) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 94 
                 X at position 177 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide as predicted with 
               
               
                 SignalP) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 99 
                 X at position 172 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR1 β 
               
               
                 chain without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
               
               
                 predicted with SignalP) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 116 
                 X at position 158 is Cys, 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 α chain 
                 X at position 222 is Ser, 
               
               
                 without N-terminal signal 
                 X at position 224 is Met, and 
               
               
                 peptide as predicted with 
                 X at position 225 is Gly. 
               
               
                 SignalP) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 117 
                 X at position 176 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide as predicted with 
               
               
                 SignalP) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 122 
                 X at position 171 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR5 β 
               
               
                 chain without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
               
               
                 predicted with SignalP) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In embodiments of the invention, the substituted amino acid sequence includes substitutions of one, two, or three amino acids in the transmembrane (TM) domain of the constant region of the α chain with a hydrophobic amino acid to provide a hydrophobic amino acid-substituted TCR (also referred to herein as an “LVL-modified TCR”). The hydrophobic amino acid substitution(s) in the TM domain of the TCR may increase the hydrophobicity of the TM domain of the TCR as compared to a TCR that lacks the hydrophobic amino acid substitution(s) in the TM domain. In this regard, the TCR is an LVL-modified TCR in which one, two, or three of the native Ser112, Met114, and Gly115 of SEQ ID NO: 19 may, independently, be substituted with Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; preferably with Leu, Ile, or Val; and the native Ser57 of SEQ ID NO: 20 may be substituted with Cys. Preferably, all three of the native Ser112, Met114, and Gly115 of SEQ ID NO: 19 may, independently, be substituted with Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; preferably with Leu, Ile, or Val. In embodiments of the invention, the LVL-modified TCR comprises (i) SEQ ID NO: 17, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 18, or (iii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18, wherein both of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18 are as defined in Table 3. The LVL-modified TCRs of the invention may include the substituted constant region in addition to any of the CDRs or variable regions described herein. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the LVL-modified TCR comprises a full length alpha chain and a full-length beta chain. Examples of LVL-modified TCR alpha chain and beta chain sequences are set forth in Table 3. In embodiments of the invention, the LVL-modified TCR comprises (i) SEQ ID NO: 21, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 131, (iii) SEQ ID NO: 22, (iv) SEQ ID NO: 41, (v) SEQ ID NO: 42, (vi) both of SEQ ID NO: 21 and 22, (vii) both of SEQ ID NO: 131 and 22, (viii) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 42, (ix) SEQ ID NO: 55, (x) SEQ ID NO: 56, (xi) SEQ ID NO: 57, (xii) SEQ ID NO: 58, (xiii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 55 and 56, or (xiv) both of SEQ ID NOs: 57 and 58, (xv) SEQ ID NO: 79, (xvi) SEQ ID NO: 134, (xvii) SEQ ID NO: 80, (xviii) SEQ ID NO: 105, (xix) both of SEQ ID NO: 79 and 80, (xx) both of SEQ ID NO: 134 and 80, (xxi) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 105, (xxii) SEQ ID NO: 93, (xxiii) SEQ ID NO: 94, (xxiv) SEQ ID NO: 116, (xxv) SEQ ID NO: 117, (xxvi) both of SEQ ID NO: 93 and 94, (xxvii) both of SEQ ID NO: 116 and 117, (xxviii) SEQ ID NO: 85, (xxix) SEQ ID NO: 88, (xxx) SEQ ID NO: 99, (xxxi) both of SEQ ID NO: 21 and 85, (xxxii) both of SEQ ID NO: 131 and 85, (xxxiii) both of SEQ ID NO: 79 and 88, (xxxiv) both of SEQ ID NO: 134 and 88, (xxxv) both of SEQ ID NO: 93 and 99, (xxxvi) SEQ ID NO: 110, (xxxvii) SEQ ID NO: 113, (xxxviii) SEQ ID NO: 122, (xxxix) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 110, (xl) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 113, (xli) both of SEQ ID NO: 116 and 122, wherein all of SEQ ID NOs: 17, 18, 21, 22, 41, 42, 55-58, 79, 80, 85, 88, 93, 94, 99, 105, 110, 113, 116, 117, 122, 131 and 134 are as defined in Table 3. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 
                 Definitions of “X” in some embodiments 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 17 
                 X at position 48 is Thr; 
               
               
                 (constant region α 
                 X at position 112 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 chain) 
                 preferably wherein X at position 112 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 112 is Leu; 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 114 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 114 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 114 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 115 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 115 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 115 is Val; 
               
               
                   
                 Wherein SEQ ID NO: 17 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 19 (unsubstituted 
               
               
                   
                 constant region of alpha chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 18 
                 X at position 57 is Ser 
               
               
                 (constant region β 
               
               
                 chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 21 
                 X at position 179 is Thr; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 243 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 with WT N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu; 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 245 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 245 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 245 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 246 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 246 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 246 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 Wherein SEQ ID NO: 21 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 23 (unsubstituted 
               
               
                   
                 alpha chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 131 
                 X at position 180 is Thr; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 244 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 with alternate WT N- 
                 preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 terminal signal 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu; 
               
               
                 peptide) 
                 X at position 246 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 245 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 245 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 247 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 246 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 246 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 Wherein SEQ ID NO: 131 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 133 
               
               
                   
                 (unsubstituted alpha chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 22 
                 X at position 198 is Ser 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain 
               
               
                 with variant N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 85 
                 X at position 187 is Ser 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR1 
               
               
                 β chain with variant 
               
               
                 N-terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 79 
                 X at position 179 is Thr; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 243 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 with variant N- 
                 preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 terminal signal 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu; 
               
               
                 peptide) 
                 X at position 245 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 245 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 245 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 246 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 246 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 246 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 Wherein SEQ ID NO: 79 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 83 (unsubstituted 
               
               
                   
                 alpha chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 134 
                 X at position 180 is Thr; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 244 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 with alternate variant 
                 preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 N-terminal signal 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu; 
               
               
                 peptide) 
                 X at position 246 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 245 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 245 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 247 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 246 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 246 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 Wherein SEQ ID NO: 134 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 136 
               
               
                   
                 (unsubstituted alpha chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 80 
                 X at position 198 is Ser 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain 
               
               
                 with WT N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 88 
                 X at position 187 is Ser 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR1 
               
               
                 β chain with WT N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 41 
                 X at position 179 is Thr; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 α chain 
                 X at position 243 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 with WT N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu; 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 245 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 245 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 245 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 246 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 246 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 246 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 Wherein SEQ ID NO: 41 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 39 (unsubstituted 
               
               
                   
                 alpha chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 42 
                 X at position 197 is Ser 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain 
               
               
                 with variant N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 110 
                 X at position 186 is Ser 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR5 
               
               
                 β chain with variant 
               
               
                 N-terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 105 
                 X at position 197 is Ser 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain 
               
               
                 with WT N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 113 
                 X at position 186 is Ser 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR5 
               
               
                 β chain with WT N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 55 
                 X at position 160 is Thr; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 224 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 224 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptideas 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 224 is Leu; 
               
               
                 predicted with IMGT) 
                 X at position 226 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 226 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 226 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 227 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 227 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 227 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 Wherein SEQ ID NO: 55 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 51 (unsubstituted 
               
               
                   
                 alpha chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 56 
                 X at position 173 is Ser 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptideas 
               
               
                 predicted with IMGT) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 57 
                 X at position 159 is Thr; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 α chain 
                 X at position 223 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptideas 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu; 
               
               
                 predicted with IMGT) 
                 X at position 225 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 225 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 225 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 226 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 226 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 226 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 Wherein SEQ ID NO: 57 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 53 (unsubstituted 
               
               
                   
                 alpha chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 58 
                 X at position 172 is Ser 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptideas 
               
               
                 predicted with IMGT) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 93 
                 X at position 159 is Thr; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 223 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu; 
               
               
                 predicted with 
                 X at position 225 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                 SignalP) 
                 preferably wherein X at position 225 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 225 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 226 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 226 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 226 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 Wherein SEQ ID NO: 93 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 95 (unsubstituted 
               
               
                   
                 alpha chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 94 
                 X at position 177 is Ser 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
               
               
                 predicted with 
               
               
                 SignalP) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 99 
                 X at position 172 is Ser 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR1 
               
               
                 β chain without N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide as predicted 
               
               
                 with SignalP) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 116 
                 X at position 158 is Thr; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 α chain 
                 X at position 222 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu; 
               
               
                 predicted with 
                 X at position 224 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                 SignalP) 
                 preferably wherein X at position 225 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 225 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 225 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 226 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 226 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 Wherein SEQ ID NO: 116 does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 120 
               
               
                   
                 (unsubstituted alpha chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 117 
                 X at position 176 is Ser 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
               
               
                 predicted with 
               
               
                 SignalP) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 122 
                 X at position 171 is Ser 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR5 
               
               
                 β chain without N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal 
               
               
                 peptide as predicted 
               
               
                 with SignalP) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In embodiments of the invention, the substituted amino acid sequence includes the cysteine substitutions in the constant region of one or both of the α and β chains in combination with the substitution(s) of one, two, or three amino acids in the transmembrane (TM) domain of the constant region of the α chain with a hydrophobic amino acid (also referred to herein as “cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified TCR”). In this regard, the TCR is a cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified, chimeric TCR in which the native Thr48 of SEQ ID NO: 19 is substituted with Cys; one, two, or three of the native Ser112, Met114, and Gly115 of SEQ ID NO: 19 are, independently, substituted with Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; preferably with Leu, Ile, or Val; and the native Ser57 of SEQ ID NO: 20 is substituted with Cys. Preferably, all three of the native Ser112, Met114, and Gly115 of SEQ ID NO: 19 may, independently, be substituted with Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; preferably with Leu, Ile, or Val. In embodiments of the invention, the cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified TCR comprises (i) SEQ ID NO: 17, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 18, or (iii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18, wherein both of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18 are as defined in Table 4. The cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified TCRs of the invention may include the substituted constant region in addition to any of the CDRs or variable regions described herein. 
     In embodiments, the cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified TCR comprises a full-length alpha chain and a full-length beta chain. In embodiments of the invention, the cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified TCR comprises (i) SEQ ID NO: 21, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 131, (iii) SEQ ID NO: 22, (iv) SEQ ID NO: 41, (v) SEQ ID NO: 42, (vi) both of SEQ ID NO: 21 and 22, (vii) both of SEQ ID NO: 131 and 22, (viii) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 42, (ix) SEQ ID NO: 55, (x) SEQ ID NO: 56, (xi) SEQ ID NO: 57, (xii) SEQ ID NO: 58, (xiii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 55 and 56, or (xiv) both of SEQ ID NOs: 57 and 58, (xv) SEQ ID NO: 79, (xvi) SEQ ID NO: 134, (xvii) SEQ ID NO: 80, (xviii) SEQ ID NO: 105, (xix) both of SEQ ID NO: 79 and 80, (xx) both of SEQ ID NO: 134 and 80, (xxi) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 105, (xxii) SEQ ID NO: 93, (xxiii) SEQ ID NO: 94, (xxiv) SEQ ID NO: 116, (xxv) SEQ ID NO: 117, (xxvi) both of SEQ ID NO: 93 and 94, (xxvii) both of SEQ ID NO: 116 and 117, (xxviii) SEQ ID NO: 85, (xxix) SEQ ID NO: 88, (xxx) SEQ ID NO: 99, (xxxi) both of SEQ ID NO: 21 and 85, (xxxii) both of SEQ ID NO: 131 and 85, (xxxiii) both of SEQ ID NO: 79 and 88, (xxxiv) both of SEQ ID NO: 134 and 88, (xxxv) both of SEQ ID NO: 93 and 99, (xxxvi) SEQ ID NO: 110, (xxxvii) SEQ ID NO: 113, (xxxviii) SEQ ID NO: 122, (xxxix) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 110, (xl) both of SEQ ID NO: 41 and 113, (xli) both of SEQ ID NO: 116 and 122, wherein all of SEQ ID NOs: 17, 18, 21, 22, 41, 42, 55-58, 79, 80, 85, 88, 93, 94, 99, 105, 110, 113, 116, 117, 122, 131 and 134 are as defined in Table 4. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 
                 Definitions of “X” in some embodiments 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 17 
                 X at position 48 is Cys; 
               
               
                 (constant region α 
                 X at position 112 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 chain) 
                 preferably wherein X at position 112 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 112 is Leu; 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 114 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 114 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 114 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 115 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 115 is Leu, Ile, or Val; and 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 115 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 wherein SEQ ID NO: 17 does not simultaneously comprise all of Ser at 
               
               
                   
                 position 112, Met at position 114, and Gly at position 115. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 18 
                 X at position 57 is Cys 
               
               
                 (constant region β 
               
               
                 chain) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 21 
                 X at position 179 is Cys; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 243 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 with WT N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu; 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 245 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 245 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 245 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 246 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 246 is Leu, Ile, or Val; and 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 246 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 wherein SEQ ID NO: 21 does not simultaneously comprise all of Ser at 
               
               
                   
                 position 243, Met at position 245, and Gly at position 246. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 131 
                 X at position 180 is Cys; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 244 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 with alternate WT N- 
                 preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 terminal signal peptide) 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu; 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 246 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 245 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 245 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 247 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 246 is Leu, Ile, or Val; and 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 246 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 wherein SEQ ID NO: 131 does not simultaneously comprise all of Ser at 
               
               
                   
                 position 244, Met at position 246, and Gly at position 247. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 22 
                 X at position 198 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain 
               
               
                 with variant N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 85 
                 X at position 187 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR1 β 
               
               
                 chain with variant N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 79 
                 X at position 179 is Cys; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 243 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 with variant N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu; 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 245 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 245 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 245 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 246 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 246 is Leu, Ile, or Val; and 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 246 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 wherein SEQ ID NO: 79 does not simultaneously comprise all of Ser at 
               
               
                   
                 position 243, Met at position 245, and Gly at position 246. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 134 
                 X at position 180 is Cys; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 244 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 with alternate variant N- 
                 preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 terminal signal peptide) 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu; 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 246 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 245 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 245 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 247 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 246 is Leu, Ile, or Val; and 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 246 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 wherein SEQ ID NO: 134 does not simultaneously comprise all of Ser at 
               
               
                   
                 position 244, Met at position 246, and Gly at position 247. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 80 
                 X at position 198 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain 
               
               
                 with WT N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 88 
                 X at position 187 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR1 β 
               
               
                 chain with WT N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 41 
                 X at position 179 is Cys; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 α chain 
                 X at position 243 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 with WT N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 243 is Leu; 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 245 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 245 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 245 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 246 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 246 is Leu, Ile, or Val; and 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 246 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 wherein SEQ ID NO: 41 does not simultaneously comprise all of Ser at 
               
               
                   
                 position 243, Met at position 245, and Gly at position 246. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 42 
                 X at position 197 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain 
               
               
                 with variant N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 110 
                 X at position 186 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR5 β 
               
               
                 chain with variant N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 105 
                 X at position 197 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain 
               
               
                 with WT N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 113 
                 X at position 186 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR5 β 
               
               
                 chain with WT N- 
               
               
                 terminal signal peptide) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 55 
                 X at position 160 is Cys; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 224 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 224 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 224 is Leu; 
               
               
                 predicted with IMGT) 
                 X at position 226 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 226 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 226 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 227 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 227 is Leu, Ile, or Val; and 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 227 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 wherein SEQ ID NO: 55 does not simultaneously comprise all of Ser at 
               
               
                   
                 position 224, Met at position 226, and Gly at position 227. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 56 
                 X at position 173 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
               
               
                 predicted with IMGT) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 57 
                 X at position 159 is Cys; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 α chain 
                 X at position 223 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu; 
               
               
                 predicted with IMGT) 
                 X at position 225 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 225 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 225 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 226 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 226 is Leu, Ile, or Val; and 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 226 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 wherein SEQ ID NO: 57 does not simultaneously comprise all of Ser at 
               
               
                   
                 position 223, Met at position 225, and Gly at position 226. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 58 
                 X at position 172 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
               
               
                 predicted with IMGT) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 93 
                 X at position 159 is Cys; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 α chain 
                 X at position 223 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu; 
               
               
                 predicted with SignalP) 
                 X at position 225 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 225 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 225 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 226 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 226 is Leu, Ile, or Val; and 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 226 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 wherein SEQ ID NO: 93 does not simultaneously comprise all of Ser at 
               
               
                   
                 position 223, Met at position 225, and Gly at position 226. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 94 
                 X at position 177 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR1 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
               
               
                 predicted with SignalP) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 99 
                 X at position 172 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR1 β 
               
               
                 chain without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
               
               
                 predicted with SignalP) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 116 
                 X at position 158 is Cys; 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 α chain 
                 X at position 222 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
                 preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 223 is Leu; 
               
               
                 predicted with SignalP) 
                 X at position 224 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 225 is Leu, Ile, or Val; 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 225 is Ile; and 
               
               
                   
                 X at position 225 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; 
               
               
                   
                 preferably wherein X at position 226 is Leu, Ile, or Val; and 
               
               
                   
                 especially preferably wherein X at position 226 is Val, 
               
               
                   
                 wherein SEQ ID NO: 116 does not simultaneously comprise all of Ser at 
               
               
                   
                 position 223, Met at position 225, and Gly at position 226. 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 117 
                 X at position 176 is Cys 
               
               
                 (4360 TCR5 β chain 
               
               
                 without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
               
               
                 predicted with SignalP) 
               
               
                 SEQ ID NO: 122 
                 X at position 171 is Cys 
               
               
                 (alternate 4360 TCR5 β 
               
               
                 chain without N-terminal 
               
               
                 signal peptide as 
               
               
                 predicted with SignalP) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In an embodiment of the invention, the cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified TCR comprises (a) SEQ ID NO: 74 (α chain constant region of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified TCR); (b) SEQ ID NO: 75 (β chain constant region of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified TCR); (c) SEQ ID NO: 77 (α chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 with WT N-terminal signal sequence); (d) SEQ ID NO: 78 (β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal sequence); (e) SEQ ID NO: 91 (α chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal sequence predicted by IMGT); (f) SEQ ID NO: 92 (β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal sequence predicted by IMGT); (g) SEQ ID NO: 95 (α chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal sequence predicted by SignalP); (h) SEQ ID NO: 96 (β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal sequence predicted by SignalP); (i) SEQ ID NO: 81 (α chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal sequence); (j) SEQ ID NO: 82 (β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 with WT N-terminal signal sequence); (k) SEQ ID NO: 89 (alternate β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 with WT N-terminal signal sequence); (l) SEQ ID NO: 86 (β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal sequence); (m) SEQ ID NO: 100 (β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal sequence predicted by SignalP); (n) SEQ ID NO: 132 (α chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 with alternate WT N-terminal signal sequence); (o) SEQ ID NO: 135 (α chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCR1 with alternate variant N-terminal signal sequence); (p) both (a) and (b); (q) both (c) and (d); (r) both (e) and (f); (s) both (g) and (h); (t) both (i) and (j); (u) both (i) and (k); (v) both (c) and (l); (w) both (g) and (m); (x) both both (n) and (d); or both (o) and (j). 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified TCR comprises (a) SEQ ID NO: 74 (α chain constant region of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified TCR); (b) SEQ ID NO: 75 (β chain constant region of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified TCR); (c) SEQ ID NO: 103 (α chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal sequence); (d) SEQ ID NO: 104 (β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCRS with variant N-terminal signal sequence); (e) SEQ ID NO: 108 (α chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal sequence predicted by IMGT); (f) SEQ ID NO: 109 (β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal sequence predicted by IMGT); (g) SEQ ID NO: 118 (α chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal sequence predicted by SignalP); (h) SEQ ID NO: 119 (β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal sequence predicted by SignalP); (j) SEQ ID NO: 106 (β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal sequence); (k) SEQ ID NO: 114 (alternate β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal sequence); (l) SEQ ID NO: 111 (alternate β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCRS with variant N-terminal signal sequence); (m) SEQ ID NO: 123 (alternate β chain of cysteine-substituted, LVL-modified 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal sequence predicted by SignalP); (n) both (a) and (b); (o) both (c) and (d); (p) both (e) and (f); (q) both (g) and (h); (r) both (c) and (j); (s) both (c) and (k); (t) both (c) and (l); or (u) both (g) and (m). 
     Also provided by an embodiment of the invention is a polypeptide comprising a functional portion of any of the TCRs described herein. The term “polypeptide,” as used herein, includes oligopeptides and refers to a single chain of amino acids connected by one or more peptide bonds. 
     With respect to the inventive polypeptides, the functional portion can be any portion comprising contiguous amino acids of the TCR of which it is a part, provided that the functional portion specifically binds to mutated RAS. The term “functional portion,” when used in reference to a TCR, refers to any part or fragment of the TCR of the invention, which part or fragment retains the biological activity of the TCR of which it is a part (the parent TCR). Functional portions encompass, for example, those parts of a TCR that retain the ability to specifically bind to mutated RAS (e.g., within the context of an HLA-DPB1*03:01 molecule), or detect, treat, or prevent cancer, to a similar extent, the same extent, or to a higher extent, as the parent TCR. In reference to the parent TCR, the functional portion can comprise, for instance, about 10%, about 25%, about 30%, about 50%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90%, about 95%, or more, of the parent TCR. 
     The functional portion can comprise additional amino acids at the amino or carboxy terminus of the portion, or at both termini, which additional amino acids are not found in the amino acid sequence of the parent TCR. Desirably, the additional amino acids do not interfere with the biological function of the functional portion, e.g., specifically binding to mutated RAS; and/or having the ability to detect cancer, treat or prevent cancer, etc. More desirably, the additional amino acids enhance the biological activity, as compared to the biological activity of the parent TCR. 
     The polypeptide can comprise a functional portion of either or both of the α and β chains of the TCRs of the invention, such as a functional portion comprising one or more of the CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 of the variable region(s) of the α chain and/or β chain of a TCR of the invention. In an embodiment of the invention, the polypeptide can comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 (CDR1 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 2 (CDR2 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 3 (CDR3 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 4 (CDR1 of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 5 (CDR2 of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 6 (CDR3 of β chain), or a combination thereof. In another embodiment of the invention, the polypeptide can comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31 (CDR1 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 32 (CDR2 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 33 (CDR3 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 34 (CDR1 of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 35 (CDR2 of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 36 (CDR3 of β chain), or a combination thereof. 
     In this regard, the inventive polypeptide can comprise any one or more of the amino acid sequences selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-6 and 31-36. In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR comprises the amino acid sequences of: (a) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3, (b) all of SEQ ID NOs: 4-6, (c) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-33 (d) all of SEQ ID NOs: 34-36, (e) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-6, or (f) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-36. In a preferred embodiment, the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequences of: (i) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-6 or (ii) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-36. The CDR3 of any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 6, 33, or 36, i.e., of the α chain or β chain or both, may further comprise a cysteine immediately N-terminal to the first amino acid of the CDR or a phenylalanine immediately C-terminal to the final amino acid or both. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the inventive polypeptide can comprise, for instance, the variable region of the inventive TCR comprising a combination of the CDR regions set forth above. In this regard, the TCR can comprise the amino acid sequence of: SEQ ID NO: 7 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain with WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 129 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain with alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 8 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain with variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 37 (variable region of 4360 TCRS α chain with WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 38 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain with variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 47 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using IMGT); SEQ ID NO: 48 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using IMGT); SEQ ID NO: 49 (variable region of 4360 TCRS α chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using IMGT); SEQ ID NO: 50 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using IMGT); SEQ ID NO: 63 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain with variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 130 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain with alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 64 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain with WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 67 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 α chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); SEQ ID NO: 68 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); SEQ ID NO: 72 (variable region of 4360 TCRS α chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); SEQ ID NO: 73 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); SEQ ID NO: 65 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain with alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 66 (variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain with alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 69 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain with alternate variant N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 70 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 71 (variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain with alternate WT N-terminal signal peptide); SEQ ID NO: 76 (alternate variable region of 4360 TCR1 β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); SEQ ID NO: 102 (alternate variable region of 4360 TCRS β chain without N-terminal signal peptide predicted using SignalP); both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8; both of SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 8; both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 8; both of SEQ ID NOs: 130 and 8; both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 64; both of SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 64; both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 64; both of SEQ ID NOs: 130 and 64; both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 65; both of SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 65; both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 65; both of SEQ ID NOs: 130 and 65; both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 66; both of SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 66; both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 66; both of SEQ ID NOs: 130 and 66; both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38; both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 69; both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 70; both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 71; both of SEQ ID NOs: 47 and 48; both of SEQ ID NOs: 67 and 68; both of SEQ ID NOs: 67 and 76; both of SEQ ID NOs: 49 and 50; both of SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 73; or both of SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 102. Preferably, the TCR comprises the amino acid sequences of (i) both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8; (ii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 64; (iii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 65; (iv) both of SEQ ID NOs: 63 and 66; (v) both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38; (vi) both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 70; (vii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 47 and 48; (viii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 67 and 68; (ix) both of SEQ ID NOs: 67 and 76; (x) both of SEQ ID NOs: 49 and 50; (xi) both of SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 73; or (xii) both of SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 102. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the inventive polypeptide can further comprise the constant region of the inventive TCR set forth above. In this regard, the polypeptide can further comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 (WT murine constant region of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 20 (WT murine constant region of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 17, (substituted murine constant region of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 18 (substituted murine constant region of β chain),), the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 74 (variant murine α chain constant region), SEQ ID NO: 75 (variant murine β chain constant region), both SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20, both SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18, or both SEQ ID NOs: 74 and 75. Preferably, the polypeptide further comprises the amino acid sequences of both of SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20, both of SEQ ID NO: 17 and 18, or both SEQ ID NOs: 74 and 75 in combination with any of the CDR regions or variable regions described herein with respect to other aspects of the invention. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the polypeptide comprises: (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17, wherein: (i) X at position 48 of SEQ ID NO: 17 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 112 of SEQ ID NO: 17 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 114 of SEQ ID NO: 17 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 115 of SEQ ID NO: 17 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (b) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18, wherein X at position 57 of SEQ ID NO: 18 is Ser or Cys; or (c) both (a) and (b). In embodiments of the invention, one or both of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18 of the polypeptide are as defined in any one of Tables 2-4. The α chain constant regions provided herein are shown with an N-terminal asparagine. In some embodiments, the N-terminal amino acid of the α chain constant regions described herein is aspartic acid. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the inventive polypeptide can comprise the entire length of an α or β chain of the TCR described herein. In this regard, the inventive polypeptide can comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 81, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, SEQ ID NO: 86, SEQ ID NO: 87, SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 131; SEQ ID NO: 132; SEQ ID NO: 133; SEQ ID NO: 134; SEQ ID NO: 135; SEQ ID NO: 136; both of SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22, both of SEQ ID NOs: 131 and 22, both of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 24, both of SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 24, both of SEQ ID NOs: 77 and 78, both of SEQ ID NOs: 132 and 78, both of SEQ ID NOs: 79 and 80, both of SEQ ID NOs: 134 and 80, both of SEQ ID NOs: 81 and 82, both of SEQ ID NOs: 135 and 82, both of SEQ ID NOs: 83 and 84, both of SEQ ID NOs: 136 and 84, both of SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 85, both of SEQ ID NOs: 131 and 85, both of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 87, both of SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 87, both of SEQ ID NOs: 77 and 86, both of SEQ ID NOs: 132 and 86, both of SEQ ID NOs: 79 and 88, both of SEQ ID NOs: 134 and 88, both of SEQ ID NOs: 83 and 90, both of SEQ ID NOs: 136 and 90, both of SEQ ID NOs: 81 and 89, both of SEQ ID NOs: 135 and 89, SEQ ID NO:55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 100, SEQ ID NO: 101, both of SEQ ID NO: 55 and 56, both of SEQ ID NO: 51 and 52, both of SEQ ID NO: 91 and 92, both of SEQ ID NO: 93 and 94, both of SEQ ID NO: 95 and 96, both of SEQ ID NO: 97 and 98, both of SEQ ID NO: 93 and 99, both of SEQ ID NO: 95 and 100, or both of SEQ ID NO: 97 and 101. In this regard, the inventive polypeptide can comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 39, SEQ ID NO: 40, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, SEQ ID NO: 105, SEQ ID NO: 106, SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 114, SEQ ID NO: 115, both of SEQ ID NOs: 41 and 42, both of SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 40, both of SEQ ID NOs: 103 and 104, both of SEQ ID NOs: 41 and 105, both of SEQ ID NOs: 103 and 106, both of SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 107, both of SEQ ID NOs: 41 and 110, both of SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 112, both of SEQ ID NOs: 103 and 111, both of SEQ ID NOs: 41 and 113, both of SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 115, both of SEQ ID NOs: 103 and 114, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 116, SEQ ID NO: 117, SEQ ID NO: 118, SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 120, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124, both of SEQ ID NO: 57 and 58, or both of SEQ ID NO: 53 and 54, both of SEQ ID NO: 108 and 109, both of SEQ ID NO: 116 and 117, both of SEQ ID NO: 118 and 119, both of SEQ ID NO: 120 and 121, both of SEQ ID NO: 116 and 122, both of SEQ ID NO: 120 and 124, or both of SEQ ID NO: 118 and 123. Alternatively, the polypeptide of the invention can comprise both chains of the TCRs described herein. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the polypeptide comprises: (a) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with wid type N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 179 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 243 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 245 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (b) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 131 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with wid type N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 180 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 244 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 247 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (c) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 198 of SEQ ID NO: 22 is Ser or Cys; (d) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41 (α chain of 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 179 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 243 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 245 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (e) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 42 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 197 of SEQ ID NO: 42 is Ser or Cys; (f) both (a) and (c); (g) both (b) and (c); or (h) both (d) and (e); (i) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 55 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein: (i) X at position 160 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 224 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 226 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 227 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (j) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein X at position 173 of SEQ ID NO: 56 is Ser or Cys; (k) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 57 (α chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein: (i) X at position 159 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 223 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 225 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 226 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (l) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 58 (β chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein X at position 172 of SEQ ID NO: 58 is Ser or Cys; (m) both (i) and (j); or (n) both (k) and (l); (o) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 79 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 179 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 243 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 245 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (p) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 134 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 180 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 244 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 247 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (q) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 80 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 198 of SEQ ID NO: 80 is Ser or Cys; (r) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 105 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 197 of SEQ ID NO: 105 is Ser or Cys; (s) both (o) and (q); (t) both (p) and (q); (u) both (d) and (r); (v) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 93 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein: (i) X at position 159 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 223 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 225 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 226 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (w) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 94 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 177 of SEQ ID NO: 94 is Ser or Cys; (x) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 116 (α chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein: (i) X at position 158 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 222 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 224 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 225 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (y) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 117 (β chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 176 of SEQ ID NO: 117 is Ser or Cys; (z) both (v) and (w); (aa) both (x) and (y); (bb) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 85 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 187 of SEQ ID NO: 85 is Ser or Cys; (cc) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 88 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 187 of SEQ ID NO: 88 is Ser or Cys; (dd) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 99 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 172 of SEQ ID NO: 99 is Ser or Cys; (ee) both (a) and (bb); (ff) both (b) and (bb); (gg) both (o) and (cc); (hh) both (p) and (cc); (ii) both (v) and (dd); (jj) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 110 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCRS with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 186 of SEQ ID NO: 110 is Ser or Cys; (kk) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 113 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 186 of SEQ ID NO: 113 is Ser or Cys; (ll) a β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 122 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 171 of SEQ ID NO: 122 is Ser or Cys; (mm) both (d) and (jj); (nn) both (d) and (kk); or (oo) both (x) and (ll). In an embodiment of the invention, any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 21, 22, 41, 42, 55-58, 79, 80, 85, 88, 93, 94, 99, 105, 110, 113, 116, 117, 122, 131 or 134 of the polypeptide are as defined in any one of Tables 2-4. 
     An embodiment of the invention further provides a protein comprising at least one of the polypeptides described herein. By “protein” is meant a molecule comprising one or more polypeptide chains. 
     In an embodiment, the protein of the invention can comprise (a) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 4-6; or (b) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 31-33 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 34-36. The CDR3 of any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 6, 33, or 36, i.e., of the α chain or β chain or both, may further comprise a cysteine immediately N-terminal to the first amino acid of the CDR or a phenylalanine immediately C-terminal to the final amino acid or both. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the protein may comprise (i) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8; (ii) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 129 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8; (iii) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 63 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8; (iv) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 130 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8; (v) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 64; (vi) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 129 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 64; (vii) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 63 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 64; (viii) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 130 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 64; (ix) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65; (x) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 129 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65; (xi) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 63 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65; (xii) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 130 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65; (xiii) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 66; (xiv) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 129 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 66; (xv) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 63 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 66; (xvi) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 130 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 66; (xvii) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 38; (xviii) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 69; (xix) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 70; (xx) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 71; (xxi) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48; (xxii) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 67 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 68; (xxiii) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 67 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 76; (xxiv) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 49 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 50; (xxv) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 72 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 73; or (xxvi) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 72 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 102. 
     The inventive protein may further comprise any of the constant regions described herein with respect to other aspects of the invention. In this regard, in embodiments of the invention, the first polypeptide chain may further comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17 and the second polypeptide chain may further comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18. In embodiments of the invention, the first polypeptide chain may further comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 and the second polypeptide chain may further comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20. In embodiments of the invention, the first polypeptide chain may further comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 74 and the second polypeptide chain may further comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 75. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the protein comprises: (a) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17, wherein: (i) X at position 48 of SEQ ID NO: 17 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 112 of SEQ ID NO: 17 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 114 of SEQ ID NO: 17 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 115 of SEQ ID NO: 17 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (b) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18, wherein X at position 57 of SEQ ID NO: 18 is Ser or Cys; or (c) both (a) and (b). In embodiments of the invention, one or both of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18 of the protein are as defined in any one of Tables 2-4. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the protein of an embodiment of the invention can comprise (a) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with wid type N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 179 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 243 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 245 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 21 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (b) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 131 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with wid type N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 180 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 244 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 247 of SEQ ID NO: 131 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (c) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 198 of SEQ ID NO: 22 is Ser or Cys; (d) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41 (α chain of 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 179 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 243 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 245 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 41 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (e) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 42 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 197 of SEQ ID NO: 42 is Ser or Cys; (f) both (a) and (c); (g) both (b) and (c); or (h) both (d) and (e); (i) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 55 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein: (i) X at position 160 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 224 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 226 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 227 of SEQ ID NO: 55 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (j) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein X at position 173 of SEQ ID NO: 56 is Ser or Cys; (k) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 57 (α chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein: (i) X at position 159 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 223 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 225 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 226 of SEQ ID NO: 57 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (l) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 58 (β chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with IMGT), wherein X at position 172 of SEQ ID NO: 58 is Ser or Cys; (m) both (i) and (j); or (n) both (k) and (l); (o) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 79 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 179 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 243 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 245 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 79 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (p) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 134 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein: (i) X at position 180 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 244 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 246 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 247 of SEQ ID NO: 134 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (q) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 80 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 198 of SEQ ID NO: 80 is Ser or Cys; (r) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 105 (β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 197 of SEQ ID NO: 105 is Ser or Cys; (s) both (o) and (q); (t) both (p) and (q); (u) both (d) and (r); (v) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 93 (α chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein: (i) X at position 159 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 223 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 225 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 226 of SEQ ID NO: 93 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (w) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 94 (β chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 177 of SEQ ID NO: 94 is Ser or Cys; (x) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 116 (α chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein: (i) X at position 158 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Thr or Cys; (ii) X at position 222 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Ser, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (iii) X at position 224 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, or Trp; and (iv) X at position 225 of SEQ ID NO: 116 is Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Phe, Met, or Trp; (y) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 117 (β chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 176 of SEQ ID NO: 117 is Ser or Cys; (z) both (v) and (w); (aa) both (x) and (y); (bb) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 85 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCR1 with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 187 of SEQ ID NO: 85 is Ser or Cys; (cc) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 88 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCR1 with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 187 of SEQ ID NO: 88 is Ser or Cys; (dd) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 99 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCR1 without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 172 of SEQ ID NO: 99 is Ser or Cys; (ee) both (a) and (bb); (ff) both (b) and (bb); (gg) both (o) and (cc); (hh) both (p) and (cc); (ii) both (v) and (dd); (jj) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 110 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCRS with variant N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 186 of SEQ ID NO: 110 is Ser or Cys; (kk) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 113 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCRS with WT N-terminal signal peptide), wherein X at position 186 of SEQ ID NO: 113 is Ser or Cys; (ll) a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 122 (alternate β chain of 4360 TCRS without N-terminal signal peptide as predicted with SignalP), wherein X at position 171 of SEQ ID NO: 122 is Ser or Cys; (mm) both (d) and (jj); (nn) both (d) and (kk); or (oo) both (x) and (ll) In an embodiment of the invention, one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 21, 22, 41, 42, 55-58, 79, 80, 85, 88, 93, 94, 99, 105, 110, 113, 116, 117 and 122 are as defined in any one of Tables 2-4. 
     The protein of the invention can be a TCR. Alternatively, if, for example, the protein comprises a single polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequences of both of SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22, SEQ ID NOs: 131 and 22, both of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 24, both of SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 24, both of SEQ ID NOs: 77 and 78, both of SEQ ID NOs: 132 and 78, both of SEQ ID NOs: 79 and 80, both of SEQ ID NOs: 134 and 80, both of SEQ ID NOs: 81 and 82, both of SEQ ID NOs: 135 and 82, both of SEQ ID NOs: 83 and 84, both of SEQ ID NOs: 136 and 84, both of SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 85, both of SEQ ID NOs: 131 and 85, both of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 87, both of SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 87, both of SEQ ID NOs: 77 and 86, both of SEQ ID NOs: 132 and 86, both of SEQ ID NOs: 79 and 88, both of SEQ ID NOs: 134 and 88, both of SEQ ID NOs: 83 and 90, both of SEQ ID NOs: 136 and 90, both of SEQ ID NOs: 81 and 89, both of SEQ ID NOs: 135 and 89, or if the first and/or second polypeptide chain(s) of the protein further comprise(s) other amino acid sequences, e.g., an amino acid sequence encoding an immunoglobulin or a portion thereof, then the inventive protein can be a fusion protein. In this regard, an embodiment of the invention also provides a fusion protein comprising at least one of the inventive polypeptides described herein along with at least one other polypeptide. The other polypeptide can exist as a separate polypeptide of the fusion protein, or can exist as a polypeptide, which is expressed in frame (in tandem) with one of the inventive polypeptides described herein. The other polypeptide can encode any peptidic or proteinaceous molecule, or a portion thereof, including, but not limited to an immunoglobulin, CD3, CD4, CD8, an MHC molecule, a CD1 molecule, e.g., CD1a, CD1b, CD1c, CD1d, etc. 
     The fusion protein can comprise one or more copies of the inventive polypeptide and/or one or more copies of the other polypeptide. For instance, the fusion protein can comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more, copies of the inventive polypeptide and/or of the other polypeptide. Suitable methods of making fusion proteins are known in the art, and include, for example, recombinant methods. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins of the invention may be expressed as a single protein comprising a linker peptide linking the α chain and the β chain. In this regard, the TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins of the invention may further comprise a linker peptide. The linker peptide may advantageously facilitate the expression of a recombinant TCR, polypeptide, and/or protein in a host cell. The linker peptide may comprise any suitable amino acid sequence. For example, the linker peptide may be a furin-SGSG-P2A linker comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25. Upon expression of the construct including the linker peptide by a host cell, the linker peptide may be cleaved, resulting in separated a and β chains. In embodiments of the invention, the TCR, polypeptide, or protein may comprise an amino acid sequence comprising a full-length α chain, a full-length β chain, and a linker peptide positioned between the α and β chains, for example α chain-linker-β chain or β chain-linker-α chain. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR, polypeptide, or protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 125 comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus, a β chain, a linker (SEQ ID NO:25) and an α chain. The variant comprises a β chain variable region (with a variant signal peptide) as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8 and a modified β constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 75. The full-length β chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 78. The variant also comprises an α chain variable region (with a WT signal peptide) as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 and a modified α constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 74. The full-length α chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 77. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the TCR, polypeptide, or protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 126 comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus, an α chain, a linker (SEQ ID NO:25) and a β chain. The variant comprises an α chain variable region (with a variant signal peptide) as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 63 and a modified α constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 74. The full-length α chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 81. The variant also comprises a β chain variable region (with a WT signal peptide) as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 64 and a modified β constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 75. The full-length β chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 82. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR, polypeptide, or protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 127 comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus, a β chain, a linker (SEQ ID NO:25) and an α chain. The variant comprises a β chain variable region (with a variant signal peptide) as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 38 and a modified β constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 75. The full-length β chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 104. The variant also comprises an α chain variable region as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 37 and a modified a constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 74. The full-length α chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 103. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the TCR, polypeptide, or protein may comprise an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 128 comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus, an α chain, a linker (SEQ ID NO:25) and a β chain. The variant comprises an α chain variable region as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 37 and a modified α constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 74. The full-length α chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 103. The variant also comprises a β chain variable region (with a WT signal peptide) as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 70 and a modified β constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 75. The full-length β chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 106. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR, polypeptide, or protein may comprise an alternate amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 137 comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus, a β chain, a linker (SEQ ID NO:25) and an α chain. The variant comprises a β chain variable region (with a variant signal peptide) as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8 and a modified β constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 75. The full-length β chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 78. The variant also comprises an α chain variable region as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 129 and a modified a constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 74. The full-length α chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 132. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the TCR, polypeptide, or protein may comprise an alternate amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 138 comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus, an α chain, a linker (SEQ ID NO:25) and a β chain. The variant comprises an alternate α chain variable region as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 130 and a modified α constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 74. The full-length α chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 135. The variant also comprises a β chain variable region (with a WT signal peptide) as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 64 and a modified β constant domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 75. The full-length β chain of the variant is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 82. 
     In some embodiments, the TCR, polypeptide or protein disclosed herein comprises an α chain and/or a β chain, as disclosed herein, comprising a signal peptide. In some embodiments, the sequence of the signal peptide of any of the α chains and/or β chains disclosed herein comprises an alanine or histidine residue substituted for the wild-type residue at position 2. 
     In some embodiments, the TCR, polypeptide or protein disclosed herein comprises a mature version of an α chain and/or a β chain, as disclosed herein, that lacks a signal peptide. The sequence of the signal peptide or mature form of the α chain and/or a β chain can be performed according to any method known in the art including IMGT and SignalP. 
     The protein of the invention can be a recombinant antibody, or an antigen binding portion thereof, comprising at least one of the inventive polypeptides described herein. As used herein, “recombinant antibody” refers to a recombinant (e.g., genetically engineered) protein comprising at least one of the polypeptides of the invention and a polypeptide chain of an antibody, or an antigen binding portion thereof. The polypeptide of an antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, can be a heavy chain, a light chain, a variable or constant region of a heavy or light chain, a single chain variable fragment (scFv), or an Fc, Fab, or F(ab) 2 ′ fragment of an antibody, etc. The polypeptide chain of an antibody, or an antigen binding portion thereof, can exist as a separate polypeptide of the recombinant antibody. Alternatively, the polypeptide chain of an antibody, or an antigen binding portion thereof, can exist as a polypeptide, which is expressed in frame (in tandem) with the polypeptide of the invention. The polypeptide of an antibody, or an antigen binding portion thereof, can be a polypeptide of any antibody or any antibody fragment, including any of the antibodies and antibody fragments described herein. 
     Included in the scope of the invention are functional variants of the inventive TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein. The term “functional variant,” as used herein, refers to a TCR, polypeptide, or protein having substantial or significant sequence identity or similarity to a parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein, which functional variant retains the biological activity of the TCR, polypeptide, or protein of which it is a variant. Functional variants encompass, for example, those variants of the TCR, polypeptide, or protein described herein (the parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein) that retain the ability to specifically bind to mutated RAS for which the parent TCR has antigenic specificity or to which the parent polypeptide or protein specifically binds, to a similar extent, the same extent, or to a higher extent, as the parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein. In reference to the parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein, the functional variant can, for instance, be at least about 30%, about 50%, about 75%, about 80%, about 90%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99% or more identical in amino acid sequence to the parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein, respectively. 
     The functional variant can, for example, comprise the amino acid sequence of the parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein with at least one conservative amino acid substitution. Conservative amino acid substitutions are known in the art, and include amino acid substitutions in which one amino acid having certain physical and/or chemical properties is exchanged for another amino acid that has the same chemical or physical properties. For instance, the conservative amino acid substitution can be an acidic amino acid substituted for another acidic amino acid (e.g., Asp or Glu), an amino acid with a nonpolar side chain substituted for another amino acid with a nonpolar side chain (e.g., Ala, Gly, Val, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Pro, Trp, Val, etc.), a basic amino acid substituted for another basic amino acid (Lys, Arg, etc.), an amino acid with a polar side chain substituted for another amino acid with a polar side chain (Asn, Cys, Gln, Ser, Thr, Tyr, etc.), etc. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the functional variants can comprise the amino acid sequence of the parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein with at least one non-conservative amino acid substitution. In this case, it is preferable for the non-conservative amino acid substitution to not interfere with or inhibit the biological activity of the functional variant. Preferably, the non-conservative amino acid substitution enhances the biological activity of the functional variant, such that the biological activity of the functional variant is increased as compared to the parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein. 
     Each signal peptide of the TCRs, polypeptides, proteins, functional variants, and functional portions described herein, when present, can be any suitable TCR signal peptide, so long as the TCR, polypeptide, protein, or functional variant is expressed and has antigenic specificity for a mutated human RAS amino acid sequence with a substitution of glycine at position 12 with valine presented by an HLA Class II molecule. 
     The TCR, polypeptide, or protein can consist essentially of the specified amino acid sequence or sequences described herein, such that other components of the TCR, polypeptide, or protein, e.g., other amino acids, do not materially change the biological activity of the TCR, polypeptide, or protein. In this regard, the inventive TCR, polypeptide, or protein can, for example, consist essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, both of SEQ ID NOs: 21-22 or both of SEQ ID NO: 23-24, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 39, SEQ ID NO: 40, both of SEQ ID NOs: 41-42 or both of SEQ ID NO: 39-40. Also, for instance, the inventive TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins can consist essentially of the amino acid sequence(s) of (i) SEQ ID NO: 7, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 8, (iii) SEQ ID NO: 37, (iv) SEQ ID NO: 38, (v) both of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8, or (vi) both of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38. Furthermore, the inventive TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins can consist essentially of the amino acid sequences of (a) any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-6 and 31-36; (b) all of SEQ ID NO: 1-3; (c) all of SEQ ID NO: 4-6; (d) all of SEQ ID NO: 31-33; (e) all of SEQ ID NOs: 34-36; (f) all of SEQ ID NOs: 1-6; or (g) all of SEQ ID NOs: 31-36. 
     The TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins of the invention can be of any length, i.e., can comprise any number of amino acids, provided that the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins retain their biological activity, e.g., the ability to specifically bind to mutated RAS; detect cancer in a mammal; or treat or prevent cancer in a mammal, etc. For example, the polypeptide can be in the range of from about 50 to about 5000 amino acids long, such as about 50, about 70, about 75, about 100, about 125, about 150, about 175, about 200, about 300, about 400, about 500, about 600, about 700, about 800, about 900, about 1000 or more amino acids in length. In this regard, the polypeptides of the invention also include oligopeptides. 
     The TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins of the invention can comprise synthetic amino acids in place of one or more naturally-occurring amino acids. Such synthetic amino acids are known in the art, and include, for example, aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid, norleucine, α-amino n-decanoic acid, homoserine, S-acetylaminomethyl-cysteine, trans and trans-4-hydroxyproline, 4-aminophenylalanine, 4-nitrophenylalanine, 4-chlorophenylalanine, 4-carboxyphenylalanine, β-phenylserine β-hydroxyphenylalanine, phenylglycine, α-naphthylalanine, cyclohexylalanine, cyclohexylglycine, indoline-2-carboxylic acid, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid, aminomalonic acid, aminomalonic acid monoamide, N′-benzyl-N′-methyl-lysine, N′,N′-dibenzyl-lysine, 6-hydroxylysine, ornithine, α-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid, α-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid, α-aminocycloheptane carboxylic acid, α-(2-amino-2-norbornane)-carboxylic acid, α,γ-diaminobutyric acid, α,β-diaminopropionic acid, homophenylalanine, and α-tert-butylglycine. 
     The TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins of the invention can be glycosylated, amidated, carboxylated, phosphorylated, esterified, N-acylated, cyclized via, e.g., a disulfide bridge, or converted into an acid addition salt and/or optionally dimerized or polymerized, or conjugated. 
     The TCR, polypeptide, and/or protein of the invention can be obtained by methods known in the art such as, for example, de novo synthesis. Also, polypeptides and proteins can be recombinantly produced using the nucleic acids described herein using standard recombinant methods. See, for instance, Green and Sambrook,  Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual,  4 th  ed., Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (2012). Alternatively, the TCRs, polypeptides, and/or proteins described herein can be commercially synthesized by commercial entities. In this respect, the inventive TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins can be synthetic, recombinant, isolated, and/or purified. An embodiment of the invention provides an isolated or purified TCR, polypeptide, or protein encoded by any of the nucleic acids or vectors described herein with respect to other aspects of the invention. Another embodiment of the invention provides an isolated or purified TCR, polypeptide, or protein that results from expression of any of the nucleic acids or vectors described herein with respect to other aspects of the invention in a cell. Still another embodiment of the invention provides a method of producing any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, the method comprising culturing any of the host cells or populations of host cells described herein so that the TCR, polypeptide, or protein is produced. 
     Included in the scope of the invention are conjugates, e.g., bioconjugates, comprising any of the inventive TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins (including any of the functional portions or variants thereof), nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of host cells, or antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof. Conjugates, as well as methods of synthesizing conjugates in general, are known in the art. 
     An embodiment of the invention provides a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein. “Nucleic acid,” as used herein, includes “polynucleotide,” “oligonucleotide,” and “nucleic acid molecule,” and generally means a polymer of DNA or RNA, which can be single-stranded or double-stranded, which can contain natural, non-natural or altered nucleotides, and which can contain a natural, non-natural or altered internucleotide linkage, such as a phosphoroamidate linkage or a phosphorothioate linkage, instead of the phosphodiester found between the nucleotides of an unmodified oligonucleotide. In embodiments, the nucleic acid comprises complementary DNA (cDNA). It is generally preferred that the nucleic acid does not comprise any insertions, deletions, inversions, and/or substitutions. However, it may be suitable in some instances, as discussed herein, for the nucleic acid to comprise one or more insertions, deletions, inversions, and/or substitutions. 
     Preferably, the nucleic acids of the invention are recombinant. As used herein, the term “recombinant” refers to (i) molecules that are constructed outside living cells by joining natural or synthetic nucleic acid segments to nucleic acid molecules that can replicate in a living cell, or (ii) molecules that result from the replication of those described in (i) above. For purposes herein, the replication can be in vitro replication or in vivo replication. 
     The nucleic acids can be constructed based on chemical synthesis and/or enzymatic ligation reactions using procedures known in the art. See, for example, Green and Sambrook et al., supra. For example, a nucleic acid can be chemically synthesized using naturally occurring nucleotides or variously modified nucleotides designed to increase the biological stability of the molecules or to increase the physical stability of the duplex formed upon hybridization (e.g., phosphorothioate derivatives and acridine substituted nucleotides). Examples of modified nucleotides that can be used to generate the nucleic acids include, but are not limited to, 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil, hypoxanthine, xanthine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxymethyl) uracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil, beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N 6 -isopentenyladenine, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N 6 -substituted adenine, 7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil, 5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, 5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil, 2-methylthio-N 6 -isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil, uracil oxyacetic acid methylester, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl) uracil, and 2,6-diaminopurine. Alternatively, one or more of the nucleic acids of the invention can be purchased from commercial entities. 
     The nucleic acid can comprise any nucleotide sequence which encodes any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein. In embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid may comprise the nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 43-46 (Table 5). In embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequences of both of SEQ ID NOs: 43-44 or both of SEQ ID NOs: 45-46. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 TCR chain 
                 Nucleotide sequence 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 4360 TCR1 Alpha 
                 SEQ ID NO: 43 
               
               
                   
                 4360 TCR1 Beta 
                 SEQ ID NO: 44 
               
               
                   
                 4360 TCR5 Alpha 
                 SEQ ID NO: 45 
               
               
                   
                 4360 TCR5 Beta 
                 SEQ ID NO: 46 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid comprises a codon-optimized nucleotide sequence encoding any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein. Without being bound to any particular theory or mechanism, it is believed that codon optimization of the nucleotide sequence increases the translation efficiency of the mRNA transcripts. Codon optimization of the nucleotide sequence may involve substituting a native codon for another codon that encodes the same amino acid, but can be translated by tRNA that is more readily available within a cell, thus increasing translation efficiency. Optimization of the nucleotide sequence may also reduce secondary mRNA structures that would interfere with translation, thus increasing translation efficiency. 
     The invention also provides a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of any of the nucleic acids described herein or a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence of any of the nucleic acids described herein. 
     The nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent conditions preferably hybridizes under high stringency conditions. By “high stringency conditions” is meant that the nucleotide sequence specifically hybridizes to a target sequence (the nucleotide sequence of any of the nucleic acids described herein) in an amount that is detectably stronger than non-specific hybridization. High stringency conditions include conditions which would distinguish a polynucleotide with an exact complementary sequence, or one containing only a few scattered mismatches from a random sequence that happened to have a few small regions (e.g., 3-10 bases) that matched the nucleotide sequence. Such small regions of complementarily are more easily melted than a full-length complement of 14-17 or more bases, and high stringency hybridization makes them easily distinguishable. Relatively high stringency conditions would include, for example, low salt and/or high temperature conditions, such as provided by about 0.02-0.1 M NaCl or the equivalent, at temperatures of about 50-70° C. Such high stringency conditions tolerate little, if any, mismatch between the nucleotide sequence and the template or target strand, and are particularly suitable for detecting expression of any of the inventive TCRs. It is generally appreciated that conditions can be rendered more stringent by the addition of increasing amounts of formamide. 
     The invention also provides a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence that is at least about 70% or more, e.g., about 80%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%, about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, or about 99% identical to any of the nucleic acids described herein. In this regard, the nucleic acid may consist essentially of any of the nucleotide sequences described herein. 
     An embodiment of the invention provides an isolated or purified nucleic acid comprising, from 5′ to 3′, a first nucleic acid sequence and a second nucleotide sequence, wherein the first and second nucleotide sequence, respectively, encode the amino sequences of 7 and 8; 7 and 64; 63 and 8; 63 and 64; 7 and 65; 63 and 65; 7 and 66; 63 and 66; 8 and 7; 64 and 7; 8 and 63; 64 and 63; 65 and 7; 65 and 63; 66 and 7; 66 and 63; 129 and 8; 129 and 64; 129 and 65; 129 and 66; 8 and 129; 64 and 129; 65 and 129; 66 and 129; 130 and 8; 130 and 64; 130 and 65; 130 and 66; 8 and 130; 64 and 130; 65 and 130; 66 and 130; 37 and 38; 37 and 69; 37 and 70; 37 and 71; 38 and 37; 69 and 37; 70 and 37; 71 and 37; 23 and 24; 23 and 84; 83 and 24; 83 and 84; 23 and 87; 83 and 87; 23 and 90; 83 and 90; 24 and 23; 84 and 23; 24 and 83; 84 and 83; 87 and 23; 87 and 83; 90 and 23; 90 and 83; 133 and 24; 133 and 84; 133 and 87; 133 and 90; 24 and 133; 84 and 133; 87 and 133; 90 and 133; 39 and 40; 39 and 107; 39 and 112; 39 and 115; 40 and 39; 107 and 39; 112 and 39; 115 and 39; 136 and 24; 136 and 84; 136 and 87; 136 and 90; 24 and 136; 84 and 136; 87 and 136; 90 and 136; 21 and 22; 21 and 80; 79 and 22; 79 and 80; 21 and 85; 21 and 88; 79 and 85; 79 and 88; 22 and 21; 80 and 21; 22 and 79; 80 and 79; 85 and 21; 88 and 21; 85 and 79; 88 and 79; 131 and 22; 131 and 80; 131 and 85; 131 and 88; 22 and 131; 80 and 131; 85 and 131; 88 and 131; 134 and 22; 134 and 80; 134 and 85; 134 and 88; 22 and 134; 80 and 134; 85 and 134; 88 and 134; 77 and 78; 77 and 82; 81 and 78; 81 and 82; 77 and 86; 81 and 86; 78 and 77; 82 and 77; 78 and 81; 82 and 81; 86 and 77; 86 and 81; 132 and 78; 132 and 82; 132 and 86; 78 and 132; 82 and 132; 86 and 132; 135 and 78; 135 and 82; 135 and 86; 78 and 135; 82 and 135; 86 and 135; 77 and 89; 81 and 89; 89 and 77; 89 and 81; 132 and 89; 89 and 132; 135 and 89; 89 and 135; 41 and 42; 41 and 105; 41 and 110; 41 and 113; 42 and 41; 105 and 41; 110 and 41; 113 and 41; 103 and 104; 103 and 111; 103 and 114; 104 and 103; 111 and 103; 114 and 103; 103 and 106; 106 and 103; 47 and 48; 48 and 47; 67 and 68; 67 and 76; 68 and 67; 76 and 67; 49 and 50; 50 and 49; 72 and 73; 72 and 102; 73 and 72; 102 and 72; 51 and 52; 52 and 51; 53 and 54; 54 and 53; 55 and 56; 56 and 55; 57 and 58; 58 and 57; 91 and 92; 92 and 91; 108 and 109; 109 and 108; 93 and 94; 93 and 99; 94 and 93; 99 and 93; 97 and 98; 97 and 101; 98 and 97; 101 and 97; 95 and 96; 95 and 100; 96 and 95; 100 and 95; 116 and 117; 116 and 122; 117 and 116; 122 and 116; 120 and 121; 120 and 124; 121 and 120; 124 and 120; 118 and 119; 118 and 123; 119 and 118 or 123 and 118. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the isolated or purified nucleic acid further comprises a third nucleotide sequence interposed between the first and second nucleotide sequence, wherein the third nucleotide sequence encodes a cleavable linker peptide. In an embodiment of the invention, the cleavable linker peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25. 
     The nucleic acids of the invention can be incorporated into a recombinant expression vector. In this regard, the invention provides a recombinant expression vector comprising any of the nucleic acids of the invention. In embodiments of the invention, the recombinant expression vector comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the α chain, the β chain, and linker peptide. 
     For purposes herein, the term “recombinant expression vector” means a genetically-modified oligonucleotide or polynucleotide construct that permits the expression of an mRNA, protein, polypeptide, or peptide by a host cell, when the construct comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the mRNA, protein, polypeptide, or peptide, and the vector is contacted with the cell under conditions sufficient to have the mRNA, protein, polypeptide, or peptide expressed within the cell. The vectors of the invention are not naturally-occurring as a whole. However, parts of the vectors can be naturally-occurring. The inventive recombinant expression vectors can comprise any type of nucleotide, including, but not limited to DNA and RNA, which can be single-stranded or double-stranded, synthesized or obtained in part from natural sources, and which can contain natural, non-natural or altered nucleotides. The recombinant expression vectors can comprise naturally-occurring, non-naturally-occurring internucleotide linkages, or both types of linkages. Preferably, the non-naturally occurring or altered nucleotides or internucleotide linkages do not hinder the transcription or replication of the vector. 
     The recombinant expression vector of the invention can be any suitable recombinant expression vector, and can be used to transform or transfect any suitable host cell. Suitable vectors include those designed for propagation and expansion or for expression or both, such as plasmids and viruses. The vector can be selected from the pUC series (Fermentas Life Sciences), the pBluescript series (Stratagene, LaJolla, Calif.), the pET series (Novagen, Madison, Wis.), the pGEX series (Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden), and the pEX series (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). Bacteriophage vectors, such as λGT10, λGT11, λZapII (Stratagene), λEMBL4, and λNM1149, also can be used. Examples of plant expression vectors include pBI01, pBI101.2, pBI101.3, pBI121 and pBIN19 (Clontech). Examples of animal expression vectors include pEUK-Cl, pMAM and pMAMneo (Clontech). Preferably, the recombinant expression vector is a viral vector, e.g., a retroviral vector. In an especially preferred embodiment, the recombinant expression vector is an MSGV1 vector. In an embodiment of the invention, the recombinant expression vector is a transposon or a lentiviral vector. 
     The recombinant expression vectors of the invention can be prepared using standard recombinant DNA techniques described in, for example, Green and Sambrook et al., supra. Constructs of expression vectors, which are circular or linear, can be prepared to contain a replication system functional in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell. Replication systems can be derived, e.g., from ColEl, 2μ plasmid, λ, SV40, bovine papillomavirus, and the like. 
     Desirably, the recombinant expression vector comprises regulatory sequences, such as transcription and translation initiation and termination codons, which are specific to the type of host cell (e.g., bacterium, fungus, plant, or animal) into which the vector is to be introduced, as appropriate and taking into consideration whether the vector is DNA- or RNA-based. 
     The recombinant expression vector can include one or more marker genes, which allow for selection of transformed or transfected host cells. Marker genes include biocide resistance, e.g., resistance to antibiotics, heavy metals, etc., complementation in an auxotrophic host cell to provide prototrophy, and the like. Suitable marker genes for the inventive expression vectors include, for instance, neomycin/G418 resistance genes, hygromycin resistance genes, histidinol resistance genes, tetracycline resistance genes, and ampicillin resistance genes. 
     The recombinant expression vector can comprise a native or nonnative promoter operably linked to the nucleotide sequence encoding the TCR, polypeptide, or protein, or to the nucleotide sequence which is complementary to or which hybridizes to the nucleotide sequence encoding the TCR, polypeptide, or protein. The selection of promoters, e.g., strong, weak, inducible, tissue-specific and developmental-specific, is within the ordinary skill of the artisan. Similarly, the combining of a nucleotide sequence with a promoter is also within the skill of the artisan. The promoter can be a non-viral promoter or a viral promoter, e.g., a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, an SV40 promoter, an RSV promoter, and a promoter found in the long-terminal repeat of the murine stem cell virus. 
     The inventive recombinant expression vectors can be designed for either transient expression, for stable expression, or for both. Also, the recombinant expression vectors can be made for constitutive expression or for inducible expression. 
     Further, the recombinant expression vectors can be made to include a suicide gene. As used herein, the term “suicide gene” refers to a gene that causes the cell expressing the suicide gene to die. The suicide gene can be a gene that confers sensitivity to an agent, e.g., a drug, upon the cell in which the gene is expressed, and causes the cell to die when the cell is contacted with or exposed to the agent. Suicide genes are known in the art and include, for example, the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) thymidine kinase (TK) gene, cytosine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, nitroreductase, and the inducible caspase 9 gene system. 
     Another embodiment of the invention further provides a host cell comprising any of the recombinant expression vectors described herein. As used herein, the term “host cell” refers to any type of cell that can contain the inventive recombinant expression vector. The host cell can be a eukaryotic cell, e.g., plant, animal, fungi, or algae, or can be a prokaryotic cell, e.g., bacteria or protozoa. The host cell can be a cultured cell or a primary cell, i.e., isolated directly from an organism, e.g., a human or mouse. The host cell can be an adherent cell or a suspended cell, i.e., a cell that grows in suspension. Suitable host cells are known in the art and include, for instance, DH5a  E. coli  cells, Chinese hamster ovarian cells, monkey VERO cells, COS cells, HEK293 cells, and the like. For purposes of amplifying or replicating the recombinant expression vector, the host cell is preferably a prokaryotic cell, e.g., a DH5a cell. For purposes of producing a recombinant TCR, polypeptide, or protein, the host cell is preferably a mammalian cell. Most preferably, the host cell is a human cell. While the host cell can be of any cell type, can originate from any type of tissue, and can be of any developmental stage, the host cell preferably is a peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) or a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). More preferably, the host cell is a T cell. In an embodiment of the invention, the host cell is a human lymphocyte. In another embodiment of the invention, the host cell is selected from a T cell, a natural killer T (NKT) cell, an invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell, and a natural killer (NK) cell. Still another embodiment of the invention provides a method of producing a host cell expressing a TCR that has antigenic specificity for the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 30, the method comprising contacting a cell with any of the vectors described herein under conditions that allow introduction of the vector into the cell. 
     For purposes herein, the T cell can be any T cell, such as a cultured T cell, e.g., a primary T cell, or a T cell from a cultured T cell line, e.g., Jurkat, SupT1, etc., or a T cell obtained from a mammal. If obtained from a mammal, the T cell can be obtained from numerous sources, including but not limited to blood, bone marrow, lymph node, the thymus, or other tissues or fluids. T cells can also be enriched for or purified. Preferably, the T cell is a human T cell. The T cell can be any type of T cell and can be of any developmental stage, including but not limited to, CD4 + /CD8 +  double positive T cells, CD4 +  helper T cells, e.g., Th 1  and Th 2  cells, CD4 +  T cells, CD8 +  T cells (e.g., cytotoxic T cells), tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), memory T cells (e.g., central memory T cells and effector memory T cells), naïve T cells, and the like. 
     Also provided by the invention is a population of cells comprising at least one host cell described herein. The population of cells can be a heterogeneous population comprising the host cell comprising any of the recombinant expression vectors described, in addition to at least one other cell, e.g., a host cell (e.g., a T cell), which does not comprise any of the recombinant expression vectors, or a cell other than a T cell, e.g., a B cell, a macrophage, a neutrophil, an erythrocyte, a hepatocyte, an endothelial cell, an epithelial cell, a muscle cell, a brain cell, etc. Alternatively, the population of cells can be a substantially homogeneous population, in which the population comprises mainly of host cells (e.g., consisting essentially of) comprising the recombinant expression vector. The population also can be a clonal population of cells, in which all cells of the population are clones of a single host cell comprising a recombinant expression vector, such that all cells of the population comprise the recombinant expression vector. In one embodiment of the invention, the population of cells is a clonal population comprising host cells comprising a recombinant expression vector as described herein. 
     In embodiments of the invention, the numbers of cells in the population may be rapidly expanded. Expansion of the numbers of T cells can be accomplished by any of a number of methods as are known in the art as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,034,334; 8,383,099; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0244133; Dudley et al.,  J. Immunother.,  26:332-42 (2003); and Riddell et al.,  J. Immunol. Methods,  128:189-201 (1990). In embodiments, expansion of the numbers of T cells is carried out by culturing the T cells with OKT3 antibody, IL-2, and feeder PBMC (e.g., irradiated allogeneic PBMC). 
     The inventive TCRs, polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, and host cells (including populations thereof), can be isolated and/or purified. The term “isolated,” as used herein, means having been removed from its natural environment. The term “purified,” as used herein, means having been increased in purity, wherein “purity” is a relative term, and not to be necessarily construed as absolute purity. For example, the purity can be at least about 50%, can be greater than about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90%, about 95%, or can be about 100%. 
     The inventive TCRs, polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, and host cells (including populations thereof), all of which are collectively referred to as “inventive TCR materials” hereinafter, can be formulated into a composition, such as a pharmaceutical composition. In this regard, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising any of the TCRs, polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, expression vectors, and host cells (including populations thereof), described herein, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The inventive pharmaceutical compositions containing any of the inventive TCR materials can comprise more than one inventive TCR material, e.g., a polypeptide and a nucleic acid, or two or more different TCRs. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical composition can comprise an inventive TCR material in combination with another pharmaceutically active agent(s) or drug(s), such as a chemotherapeutic agent, e.g., asparaginase, busulfan, carboplatin, cisplatin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, fluorouracil, gemcitabine, hydroxyurea, methotrexate, paclitaxel, rituximab, vinblastine, vincristine, etc. 
     Preferably, the carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. With respect to pharmaceutical compositions, the carrier can be any of those conventionally used for the particular inventive TCR material under consideration. Methods for preparing administrable compositions are known or apparent to those skilled in the art and are described in more detail in, for example,  Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy,  22 nd  Ed., Pharmaceutical Press (2012). It is preferred that the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier be one which has no detrimental side effects or toxicity under the conditions of use. 
     The choice of carrier will be determined in part by the particular inventive TCR material, as well as by the particular method used to administer the inventive TCR material. Accordingly, there are a variety of suitable formulations of the pharmaceutical composition of the invention. Suitable formulations may include any of those for parenteral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarterial, intrathecal, intratumoral, or interperitoneal administration. More than one route can be used to administer the inventive TCR materials, and in certain instances, a particular route can provide a more immediate and more effective response than another route. 
     Preferably, the inventive TCR material is administered by injection, e.g., intravenously. When the inventive TCR material is a host cell (or population thereof) expressing the inventive TCR, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for the cells for injection may include any isotonic carrier such as, for example, normal saline (about 0.90% w/v of NaCl in water, about 300 mOsm/L NaCl in water, or about 9.0 g NaCl per liter of water), NORMOSOL R electrolyte solution (Abbott, Chicago, Ill.), PLASMA-LYTE A (Baxter, Deerfield, Ill.), about 5% dextrose in water, or Ringer&#39;s lactate. In embodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is supplemented with human serum albumin. 
     For purposes of the invention, the amount or dose (e.g., numbers of cells when the inventive TCR material is one or more cells) of the inventive TCR material administered should be sufficient to effect, e.g., a therapeutic or prophylactic response, in the subject or animal over a reasonable time frame. For example, the dose of the inventive TCR material should be sufficient to bind to a cancer antigen (e.g., mutated RAS), or detect, treat or prevent cancer in a period of from about 2 hours or longer, e.g., 12 to 24 or more hours, from the time of administration. In certain embodiments, the time period could be even longer. The dose will be determined by the efficacy of the particular inventive TCR material and the condition of the animal (e.g., human), as well as the body weight of the animal (e.g., human) to be treated. 
     Many assays for determining an administered dose are known in the art. For purposes of the invention, an assay, which comprises comparing the extent to which target cells are lysed or IFN-γ is secreted by T cells expressing the inventive TCR, polypeptide, or protein upon administration of a given dose of such T cells to a mammal among a set of mammals of which each is given a different dose of the T cells, could be used to determine a starting dose to be administered to a mammal. The extent to which target cells are lysed or IFN-γ is secreted upon administration of a certain dose can be assayed by methods known in the art. 
     The dose of the inventive TCR material also will be determined by the existence, nature and extent of any adverse side effects that might accompany the administration of a particular inventive TCR material. Typically, the attending physician will decide the dosage of the inventive TCR material with which to treat each individual patient, taking into consideration a variety of factors, such as age, body weight, general health, diet, sex, inventive TCR material to be administered, route of administration, and the severity of the cancer being treated. In embodiments in which the inventive TCR material is a population of cells, the number of cells administered per infusion may vary, e.g., from about 1×10 6  to about 1×10 12  cells or more. In certain embodiments, fewer than 1×10 6  cells may be administered. 
     One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the inventive TCR materials of the invention can be modified in any number of ways, such that the therapeutic or prophylactic efficacy of the inventive TCR materials is increased through the modification. For instance, the inventive TCR materials can be conjugated either directly or indirectly through a bridge to a chemotherapeutic agent. The practice of conjugating compounds to a chemotherapeutic agent is known in the art. One of ordinary skill in the art recognizes that sites on the inventive TCR materials, which are not necessary for the function of the inventive TCR materials, are suitable sites for attaching a bridge and/or a chemotherapeutic agent, provided that the bridge and/or chemotherapeutic agent, once attached to the inventive TCR materials, do(es) not interfere with the function of the inventive TCR materials, i.e., the ability to bind to mutated RAS or to detect, treat, or prevent cancer. 
     It is contemplated that the inventive pharmaceutical compositions, TCRs, polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, and populations of cells can be used in methods of treating or preventing cancer. Without being bound to a particular theory, the inventive TCRs are believed to bind specifically to mutated RAS, such that the TCR (or related inventive polypeptide or protein), when expressed by a cell, is able to mediate an immune response against a target cell expressing mutated RAS. In this regard, the invention provides a method of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal any of the pharmaceutical compositions, TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, any nucleic acid or recombinant expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding any of the TCRs, polypeptides, proteins described herein, or any host cell or population of cells comprising a recombinant vector which encodes any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, in an amount effective to treat or prevent cancer in the mammal. 
     An embodiment of the invention provides a method of inducing an immune response against a cancer in a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal any of the pharmaceutical compositions, TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, any nucleic acid or recombinant expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, or any host cell or population of cells comprising a recombinant vector which encodes any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, in an amount effective to induce an immune response against the cancer in the mammal. 
     An embodiment of the invention provides any of the pharmaceutical compositions, TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, any nucleic acid or recombinant expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding any of the TCRs, polypeptides, proteins described herein, or any host cell or population of cells comprising a recombinant vector which encodes any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, for use in the treatment or prevention of cancer in a mammal. 
     An embodiment of the invention provides any of the pharmaceutical compositions, TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, any nucleic acid or recombinant expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, or any host cell or population of cells comprising a recombinant vector which encodes any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, for use in inducing an immune response against a cancer in a mammal. 
     The terms “treat,” and “prevent” as well as words stemming therefrom, as used herein, do not necessarily imply 100% or complete treatment or prevention. Rather, there are varying degrees of treatment or prevention of which one of ordinary skill in the art recognizes as having a potential benefit or therapeutic effect. In this respect, the inventive methods can provide any amount of any level of treatment or prevention of cancer in a mammal. Furthermore, the treatment or prevention provided by the inventive method can include treatment or prevention of one or more conditions or symptoms of the cancer being treated or prevented. For example, treatment or prevention can include promoting the regression of a tumor. Also, for purposes herein, “prevention” can encompass delaying the onset of the cancer, or a symptom or condition thereof. Alternatively or additionally, “prevention” may encompass preventing or delaying the recurrence of cancer, or a symptom or condition thereof. 
     Also provided is a method of detecting the presence of cancer in a mammal. The method comprises (i) contacting a sample comprising one or more cells from the mammal with any of the inventive TCRs, polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, or pharmaceutical compositions described herein, thereby forming a complex, and (ii) detecting the complex, wherein detection of the complex is indicative of the presence of cancer in the mammal. 
     With respect to the inventive method of detecting cancer in a mammal, the sample of cells can be a sample comprising whole cells, lysates thereof, or a fraction of the whole cell lysates, e.g., a nuclear or cytoplasmic fraction, a whole protein fraction, or a nucleic acid fraction. 
     For purposes of the inventive method of detecting cancer, the contacting can take place in vitro or in vivo with respect to the mammal. Preferably, the contacting is in vitro. 
     Also, detection of the complex can occur through any number of ways known in the art. For instance, the inventive TCRs, polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, or populations of cells, described herein, can be labeled with a detectable label such as, for instance, a radioisotope, a fluorophore (e.g., fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), phycoerythrin (PE)), an enzyme (e.g., alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase), and element particles (e.g., gold particles). 
     For purposes of the inventive methods, wherein host cells or populations of cells are administered, the cells can be cells that are allogeneic or autologous to the mammal. Preferably, the cells are autologous to the mammal. 
     With respect to the inventive methods, the cancer can be any cancer, including, e.g., any of acute lymphocytic cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, bone cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, cancer of the anus, anal canal, or anorectum, cancer of the eye, cancer of the intrahepatic bile duct, cancer of the joints, cancer of the neck, gallbladder, or pleura, cancer of the nose, nasal cavity, or middle ear, cancer of the oral cavity, cancer of the vagina, cancer of the vulva, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, uterine cervical cancer, gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor, glioma, Hodgkin lymphoma, hypopharynx cancer, kidney cancer, larynx cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, melanoma, multiple myeloma, nasopharynx cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cancer of the oropharynx, ovarian cancer, cancer of the penis, pancreatic cancer, peritoneum, omentum, and mesentery cancer, pharynx cancer, prostate cancer, rectal cancer, renal cancer, skin cancer, small intestine cancer, soft tissue cancer, stomach cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, cancer of the uterus, ureter cancer, and urinary bladder cancer. A preferred cancer is pancreatic, colorectal, lung, endometrial, ovarian, or prostate cancer. Preferably, the lung cancer is lung adenocarcinoma, the ovarian cancer is epithelial ovarian cancer, and the pancreatic cancer is pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In embodiments of the invention, the cancer expresses a mutated human RAS amino acid sequence, wherein the mutated human RAS amino acid sequence is a mutated human KRAS, a mutated human HRAS, or a mutated human NRAS amino acid sequence. The mutated human KRAS, mutated human HRAS, and mutated human NRAS expressed by the cancer may be as described herein with respect to other aspects of the invention. 
     The mammal referred to in the inventive methods can be any mammal. As used herein, the term “mammal” refers to any mammal, including, but not limited to, mammals of the order Rodentia, such as mice and hamsters, and mammals of the order Logomorpha, such as rabbits. It is preferred that the mammals are from the order Carnivora, including Felines (cats) and Canines (dogs). It is more preferred that the mammals are from the order Artiodactyla, including Bovines (cows) and Swines (pigs) or of the order Perssodactyla, including Equines (horses). It is most preferred that the mammals are of the order Primates, Ceboids, or Simoids (monkeys) or of the order Anthropoids (humans and apes). An especially preferred mammal is the human. 
     It shall be noted that the preceding are merely examples of embodiments. Other exemplary embodiments are apparent from the entirety of the description herein. It will also be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that each of these embodiments may be used in various combinations with the other embodiments provided herein. 
     The following examples further illustrate the invention but, of course, should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope. 
     Example 1 
     This Example demonstrates identification of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) that are reactive to RAS G12V . 
     PBL were sorted into CD4 or CD8 memory and effector T cells. 
     In vitro stimulation (IVS) was separately performed on PBL of patient 4360 enriched for CD4 or CD8 cells. The PBL were stimulated with DC loaded with 10 μg/ml RAS G12V  long peptide (LP) (MTEYKLVVVGAVGVGKSALTIQLI, SEQ ID NO: 30). After two weeks of stimulation, T cells were restimulated and FACS-sorted.  FIG.  1 A  shows a flow cytometry assay dot plot showing the gating strategy in which CD4 lymphocyte T cells were sorted for high expression of OX40 and 41BB surface markers following the RAS G12V  LP IVS (DC treated with DMSO was used as a negative control). The sorted cells, as indicated in  FIG.  1 A , were then sorted and expanded using rapid expansion (REP) for 14 days. 
     The expanded cells then were stimulated with DC loaded with 10 μg/ml RAS G12V  LP or DC treated with DMSO. CD4 Lymphocyte T cells highly expressing OX40 and 41BB surface markers, as indicated in  FIG.  1 B , were then sorted to 96 wells plate for single-cell sequencing. 
     The cells following the IVS above were tested for reactivity against RAS by co-culturing with DC transfected with WT/mutant tandem minigene (TMG) or loaded with RAS G12V  LP (SEQ ID NO: 30) or RAS WT  LP (MTEYKLVVVGAGGVGKSALTIQLI, SEQ ID NO: 27) at 1 μg/ml or treated with an equivalent amount of DMSO. Cells that were stimulated and then expanded using REP but were not sorted as described above and as in  FIG.  1 A  (“no sort” cells) or cells that grew with IL2 only and were not stimulated with DC carrying the RAS antigen (“no IVS” cells) were used as controls. Also, T cells with and without anti-CD28/CD3 beads were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. After overnight co-culturing, cells were analyzed by IFN-γ ELISpot ( FIG.  1 C ) and by flow cytometry for 41BB/OX40 surface marker upregulation in the live/CD3 + /CD4 +  gated population ( FIG.  1 D ). 
     Example 2 
     This Example demonstrates characterization of the PBL of Example 1. 
     Testing was performed on CD4 PBL cells of Example 1, as shown in the 84.2% of cells in  FIG.  1 B , after RAS G12V  LP IVS (including one REP after sorting). The cells were co-cultured with DC loaded with RAS G12V  LP or RAS WT  LP at various concentrations. After overnight co-culturing, the cells were analyzed using IFN-γ ELISpot ( FIG.  2 A ) and flow cytometry ( FIG.  2 B , 41BB/OX40 surface marker upregulation in the live/CD3 + /CD4 +  gated population). Strong avidity to RAS G12V  was observed (down to about 10 pg/ml LP). 
     IFN-γ ELISpot ( FIG.  3   , left axis and bars) and 41BB/OX40 flow cytometry assay ( FIG.  3   , right axis and circles) were used to identify the MHC-II restriction element recognized by the CD4 PBL that underwent RAS G12V  LP IVS. The cells were co-cultured with COS7 transfected with DNA plasmids containing the different combinations of the patient&#39;s MHC-II α and β chains and loaded with RAS G12V  LP. Cell reactivity was found against RAS G12V  restricted by DPB1*03:01. 
     Example 3 
     This Example demonstrates identification of TCRs of the PBL of Example 2, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
     Two TCRs (TCR1, TCR2) that were identified by single-cell sequencing from patient 4360 CD4 PBL after LP IVS (within the 84.2% of cells as shown in  FIG.  1 B  and explained in Example 1) were sequenced. 
     Table 6 shows the sequence of 4360 TCR1, with CDR sequences underlined. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TCR Name 
                 TCR chain 
                 Amino acid sequence 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 4360 TCR1 
                 Alpha chain 
                 METLLGVSLVILWLQLAVNSQQGEEDPQALSIQEGENATMNCSYK 
               
               
                   
                 variable region 
                   TSINN LQWYRQNSGRGLVHLIL IRSNERE KHSGRLRVTLDTSKKSS 
               
               
                   
                 (TRAV17*01 + 
                 SLLITASRAADTASYFC ATDGETSGSRLT FGEGTQLTVNP 
               
               
                   
                 TRAJ58*01) 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 7) 
               
               
                   
                 (with WT N- 
                 OR 
               
               
                   
                 terminal signal 
                 METLLGVSLVILWLQLARVNSQQGEEDPQALSIQEGENATMNCSY 
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                 K TSINN LQWYRQNSGRGLVHLIL IRSNERE KHSGRLRVTLDTSKKS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 SSLLITASRAADTASYFC ATDGETSGSRLT FGEGTQLTVNP 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 129) 
               
               
                   
                 Alpha chain 
                 MATLLGVSLVILWLQLAVNSQQGEEDPQALSIQEGENATMNCSYK 
               
               
                   
                 variable region 
                   TSINN LQWYRQNSGRGLVHLIL IRSNERE KHSGRLRVTLDTSKKSS 
               
               
                   
                 (TRAV17*01 + 
                 SLLITASRAADTASYFC ATDGETSGSRLT FGEGTQLTVNP 
               
               
                   
                 TRAJ58*01) 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 63) 
               
               
                   
                 (with variant N- 
                 OR 
               
               
                   
                 terminal signal 
                 MATLLGVSLVILWLQLARVNSQQGEEDPQALSIQEGENATMNCSY 
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                 K TSINN LQWYRQNSGRGLVHLIL IRSNERE KHSGRLRVTLDTSKKS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 SSLLITASRAADTASYFC ATDGETSGSRLT FGEGTQLTVNP 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 130) 
               
               
                   
                 Beta chain 
                 MALLLLLLGPGISLLLPGSLAGSGLGAVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKI 
               
               
                   
                 variable region 
                 ECRSL DFQATT MFWYRQFPKQSLMLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEK 
               
               
                   
                 (TRBV20-1*03 + 
                 DKFLINHASLTLSTLTVTSAHPEDSSFYIC SASRGATGQPQH FGDG 
               
               
                   
                 TRBJ1-5*01 + 
                 TRLSIL 
               
               
                   
                 TRBD1*01) 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 8) 
               
               
                   
                 (with variant N- 
                 OR 
               
               
                   
                 terminal signal 
                 MALLLLLLGPGSGLGAVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKIECRSL DFQATT   
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                 MFWYRQFPKQSLMLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKDKFLINHASLTL 
               
               
                   
                   
                 STLTVTSAHPEDSSFYIC SASRGATGQPQH FGDGTRLSIL 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 65) 
               
               
                   
                 Beta chain 
                 MLLLLLLLGPGISLLLPGSLAGSGLGAVVSQHPSWWICKSGTSVKIE 
               
               
                   
                 variable region 
                 CRSL DFQATT MFWYRQFPKQSLMLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKD 
               
               
                   
                 (TRBV20-1*03 + 
                 KFLINHASLTLSTLTVTSAHPEDSSFYIC SASRGATGQPQH FGDGT 
               
               
                   
                 TRBJ1-5*01 + 
                 RLSIL 
               
               
                   
                 TRBD1*01) 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 64) 
               
               
                   
                 (with WT N- 
                 OR 
               
               
                   
                 terminal signal 
                 MLLLLLLLGPGSGLGAVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKIECRSL DFQATT   
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                 MFWYRQFPKQSLMLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKDKFLINHASLTL 
               
               
                   
                   
                 STLTVTSAHPEDSSFYIC SASRGATGQPQH FGDGTRLSIL 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 66) 
               
               
                   
                 Alpha 
                 SQQGEEDPQALSIQEGENATMNCSYK TSINN LQWYRQNSGRGLV 
               
               
                   
                 (TRAV17*01 + 
                 HLIL IRSNEREK HSGRLRVTLDTSKKSSSLLITASRAADTASYFC AT   
               
               
                   
                 TRAJ58*01) 
                   DGETSGSRLT FGEGTQLTVNP 
               
               
                   
                 (IMGT predicted 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 47) 
               
               
                   
                 sequence without 
                   
               
               
                   
                 N-terminal signal 
                   
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Beta 
                 GAVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKIECRSL DFQATT MFWYRQFPKQSL 
               
               
                   
                 (TRBV20-1*03 + 
                 MLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKDKFLINHASLTLSTLTVTSAHPEDS 
               
               
                   
                 TRBJ 1-5*01 + 
                 SFYIC SASRGATGQPQH FGDGTRLSIL 
               
               
                   
                 TRBD1*01) 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 48) 
               
               
                   
                 (IMGT predicted 
                   
               
               
                   
                 sequence without 
                   
               
               
                   
                 N-terminal signal 
                   
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Alpha 
                 QQGEEDPQALSIQEGENATMNCSYK TSINN LQWYRQNSGRGLVH 
               
               
                   
                 (TRAV17*01 + 
                 LIL IRSNERE KHSGRLRVTLDTSKKSSSLLITASRAADTASYFC ATD   
               
               
                   
                 TRAJ58*01) 
                   GETSGSRLT FGEGTQLTVNP 
               
               
                   
                 (SignalP predicted 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 67) 
               
               
                   
                 sequence without 
                   
               
               
                   
                 N-terminal signal 
                   
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Beta 
                 GSGLGAVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKIECRSL DFQATT MFWYRQFP 
               
               
                   
                 (TRBV20-1*03 + 
                 KQSLMLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKDKFLINHASLTLSTLTVTSAHP 
               
               
                   
                 TRBJ 1-5*01 + 
                 EDSSFYIC SASRGATGQPQH FGDGTRLSIL 
               
               
                   
                 TRBD1*01) 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 68) 
               
               
                   
                 (SignalP predicted 
                 OR 
               
               
                   
                 sequence without 
                 AVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKIECRSL DFQATT MFWYRQFPKQSLM 
               
               
                   
                 N-terminal signal 
                 LMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKDKFLINHASLTLSTLTVTSAHPEDSSF 
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                 YIC SASRGATGQPQH FGDGTRLSIL (SEQ ID NO: 76) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     TCR2 was found to have a CDR3β sequence of ASSSGTGVAEAF (SEQ ID NO: 26). The sequence also was found to have a cysteine N-terminal to the first amino acid (alanine) and a phenylalanine C-terminal to the last amino acid (phenylalanine). 
     Deep sequencing (Adaptive Biotechnologies, Seattle, Wash., USA) of DNA extracts from four tumor fragments revealed TCR1 that existed in one of these fragments (5.7 repeats in 100,000 cells) while TCR2 did not exist in any. 
     Example 4 
     This Example demonstrates the construction of a retroviral vector encoding TCR1 and TCR2, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
     An MSGV1 based-retroviral vector was constructed which encoded the TCR alpha and beta chain variable regions of TCR1 with the exception that the amino acid residue at position 2 of the N-terminal signal peptide of the beta chain was changed to an alanine in order to facilitate cloning into the vector. Additional modifications to the wild-type TCR were made, as described in more detail below. 
     Construction of the CD22-specific TCR was done as previously described (Jin et al., JCI Insight, 3(8): e99488 (2018), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Briefly, the TCRβ VDJ regions were fused to the mouse TCRβ constant chain, and the TCRα VJ regions were fused to the mouse TCRα constant chain. Without being bound to a particular theory or mechanism, it is believed that using the murine constant regions improves TCR expression and functionality (Cohen et al., Cancer Res., 66(17): 8878-8886 (2006)). 
     In addition, the murine TCRα and TCRβ constant chains were cysteine-modified, and transmembrane hydrophobic mutations were introduced into the murine TCRα constant chain. Without being bound to a particular theory or mechanism, it is believed that these modifications result in preferential pairing of the introduced TCR chains and enhanced TCR surface expression and functionality (Cohen et al., Cancer Res., 67(8):3898-903 (2007); Haga-Friedman et al., J. Immu., 188: 5538-5546 (2012)). 
     The TCRβ and TCRα chains were separated by a Furin SGSG P2A linker (RAKRSGSGATNFSLLKQAGDVEENPGP) (SEQ ID NO: 25) to ensure a comparable expression efficiency of the two chains (Szymczak et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 22(5):589-94 (2004)). 
     To allow cloning of the TCR expression cassette into the MSGV1 vector 5′NcoI site, the second amino acid in the TCRVβ chain (the second amino acid within the N-terminal signal peptide) was changed to an alanine (A). The expression cassette had the following configuration: 5′NcoI-VDJβ-mCβ-Furin/SGSG/P2A-VJα-mCα-SalI3′. The nucleotide sequence of the TCR was codon optimized for human T cell expression by Genscript codon optimization tool. This example describes a synthesis of bicistronic vector in 5′TCRβ to TCRα 3′ orientation, but the order of TCRβ to TCRα can be reversed. The vector insert sequences were codon optimized for expression in human tissues. 
     Example 5 
     This Example demonstrates characterization of TCRs of the PBL of Example 2 as identified in Example 3, using the retroviral vectors of Example 4, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
     Each of TCR1 and TCR2 was virally transduced into a Jurkat-CD4-NFAT-Luciferase cell line and then co-cultured with DC loaded with RAS G12V  LP, RAS WT  LP at 1 μg/ml, or DC treated with the equivalent amount of DMSO. Luciferase activity was measured ( FIG.  4 A ). 
     PBL of patient 4360 were transduced with TCR1 or TCR2, or for negative controls, transduced with WT GFP, empty plasmid (Mock) or left untransduced. For positive control, the PBL follow LP IVS (from Example 1,  FIG.  1   , and  FIG.  2   ) were used. The cells then were co-cultured with autologous DC loaded with RAS G12V  LP or RAS WT  LP or co-cultured with autologous DC mRNA transfected with RAS G12V  full length (FL) (SEQ ID NO: 14) or RAS WT  FL (SEQ ID NO: 10). T cells cultured alone and PBL cultured with DMSO were used as negative controls. PBL activated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibody-conjugated Dynabeads were used as a positive control. Also, PBL after LP IVS were used as a positive control. TCR reactivity was assessed by flow cytometry assay for 4-1BB and OX40 (% 4-1BB+/OX40+) expression of CD3 + /CD8 +  gated cells ( FIG.  4 B ) or CD3 + /CD4 +  gated cells ( FIG.  4 C ). 
     Example 6 
     This Example demonstrates TIL following IVS were found to be reactive to RAS G12V  and to recognize the same MHC-II restriction as TCR1. 
     TIL fragments were used as the cell source and were stimulated by IVS. The TILs were co-cultured with autologous DC pulsed with RAS G12V  LP peptide or co-cultured with autologous DC RNA-transfected with RAS G12V  FL. In any stage of the IVS if there were not enough cells, some fragments were pooled together with other fragments. T cells (TIL) co-cultured alone and co-cultured with DC loaded with DMSO were used as negative controls. TIL cultured with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibody-conjugated Dynabeads were used as a positive control. TIL after IVS were tested for reactivity by measuring expression of 41BB and OX40 by flow cytometry ( FIG.  5 A ) and by IFN-γ ELISPOT measurement of IFN-γ secretion (Table 7). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 7 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Number of spots per 3e4 cells 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 F4 LP 
                 *F3 LP 
                 *F22 LP 
                 *F6 FL 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 RAS WT  FL 
                 47 
                 58 
                 593 
                 68 
               
               
                 RAS G12V  FL 
                 1108 
                 371 
                 1278 
                 240 
               
               
                 RAS WT  LP 
                 55 
                 93 
                 742 
                 61 
               
               
                 RAS G12V  LP 
                 1070 
                 393 
                 1508 
                 286 
               
               
                 DMSO 
                 14 
                 91 
                 708 
                 55 
               
               
                 T cell only 
                 9 
                 22 
                 527 
                 51 
               
               
                 CD3/CD28 Dynabeads 
                 715 
                 795 
                 994 
                 446 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *pooled TIL 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The MHC-II restriction element recognized by 4360 CD4 TIL after IVS was determined using IFN-γ ELISpot. The cells were co-cultured with COST transfected with DNA plasmids containing the different combinations of the patient&#39;s MHC-II α and β chains and loaded with RAS G12V  LP. PBL virally transduced with TCR 1 were used as a positive control. The results are in  FIG.  5 B . TIL following IVS were found to recognize the same MHC-II restriction as TCR1. 
     Example 7 
     This Example demonstrates that the TCRs found in TIL are persistent in tumor fragments. 
     Using single-cell sequencing, six additional TCR sequences were found from TIL after IVS as described in Example 6 (TCR 5 to 10). 
     Table 8 shows the sequence of 4360 TCRS, with CDR sequences underlined. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 8 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TCR Name 
                 TCR chain 
                 Amino acid sequence 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 4360 TCR5 
                 Alpha chain 
                 MAGIRALFMYLWLQLDWSRGESVGLHLPTLSVQEGDNSIINCAY 
               
               
                   
                 variable region 
                 S NSASDY FIWYKQESGKGPQFIID IRSNMDK RQGQRVTVLLNKTV 
               
               
                   
                 (TRAV13-2*01 + 
                 KHLSLQIAATQPGDSAVYFC AERGRGGKLI FGQGTELSVKP 
               
               
                   
                 TRAJ23*01) 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 37) 
               
               
                   
                 (with WT N- 
                   
               
               
                   
                 terminal signal 
                   
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Beta chain 
                 MALLLLLLGPGISLLLPGSLAGSGLGAVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKI 
               
               
                   
                 variable region 
                 ECRSL DFQATT MFWYRQFPKQSLMLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEK 
               
               
                   
                 (TRBV20-1*01 + 
                 DKFLINHASLTLSTLTVTSAHPEDSSFYIC SAGRASTDTQY FGPGT 
               
               
                   
                 TRBJ2-3*01 + 
                 RLTVL 
               
               
                   
                 TRBDP01) 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 38) 
               
               
                   
                 (with variant N- 
                 OR 
               
               
                   
                 terminal signal 
                 MALLLLLLGPGSGLGAVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKIECRSL DFQATT   
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                 MFWYRQFPKQSLMLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKDKFLINHASLTL 
               
               
                   
                   
                 STLTVTSAHPEDSSFYIC SAGRASTDTQY FGPGTRLTVL 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 69) 
               
               
                   
                 Beta chain 
                 MLLLLLLLGPGISLLLPGSLAGSGLGAVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKIE 
               
               
                   
                 variable region 
                 CRSL DFQATT MFWYRQFPKQSLMLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKD 
               
               
                   
                 (TRBV20-1*01 + 
                 KFLINHASLTLSTLTVTSAHPEDSSFYIC SAGRASTDTQY FGPGTR 
               
               
                   
                 TRBJ2-3*01 + 
                 LTVL 
               
               
                   
                 TRBD1*01) 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 70) 
               
               
                   
                 (with WT N- 
                 OR 
               
               
                   
                 terminal signal 
                 MLLLLLLLGPGSGLGAVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKIECRSL DFQATT   
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                 MFWYRQFPKQSLMLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKDKFLINHASLTL 
               
               
                   
                   
                 STLTVTSAHPEDSSFYIC SAGRASTDTQY FGPGTRLTVL 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 71) 
               
               
                   
                 Alpha 
                 GESVGLHLPTLSVQEGDNSIINCAYS NSASDY FIWYKQESGKGPQ 
               
               
                   
                 (TRAV13-2*01 + 
                 FIID IRSNMDK RQGQRVTVLLNKTVKHLSLQIAATQPGDSAVYFC A   
               
               
                   
                 TRAJ23*01) 
                   ERGRGGKLI FGQGTELSVKP 
               
               
                   
                 (IMGT predicted 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 49) 
               
               
                   
                 sequence without 
                   
               
               
                   
                 N-terminal signal 
                   
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Beta 
                 GAVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKIECRSL DFQATT MFWYRQFPKQSL 
               
               
                   
                 (TRBV20-1*01 + 
                 MLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKDKFLINHASLTLSTLTVTSAHPEDS 
               
               
                   
                 TRBJ2-3*01 + 
                 SFYIC SAGRASTDTQY FGPGTRLTVL 
               
               
                   
                 TRBDP01) 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 50) 
               
               
                   
                 (IMGT predicted 
                   
               
               
                   
                 sequence without 
                   
               
               
                   
                 N-terminal signal 
                   
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Alpha 
                 ESVGLHLPTLSVQEGDNSIINCAYS NSASDY FIWYKQESGKGPQFI 
               
               
                   
                 (TRAV13-2*01 + 
                 ID IRSNMDK RQGQRVTVLLNKTVKHLSLQIAATQPGDSAVYFC AER   
               
               
                   
                 TRAJ23*01) 
                   GRGGKLI FGQGTELSVKP 
               
               
                   
                 (SignalP predicted 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 72) 
               
               
                   
                 sequence without 
                   
               
               
                   
                 N-terminal signal 
                   
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Beta 
                 GSGLGAVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKIECRSL DFQATT MFWYRQFP 
               
               
                   
                 (TRBV20-1*01 + 
                 KQSLMLMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKDKFLINHASLTLSTLTVTSAHP 
               
               
                   
                 TRBJ2-3*01 + 
                 EDSSFYIC SAGRASTDTQY FGPGTRLTVL 
               
               
                   
                 TRBD1*01) 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 73) 
               
               
                   
                 (SignalP predicted 
                 OR 
               
               
                   
                 sequence without 
                 AVVSQHPSWVICKSGTSVKIECRSL DFQATT MFWYRQFPKQSLM 
               
               
                   
                 N-terminal signal 
                 LMAT SNEGSKA TYEQGVEKDKFLINHASLTLSTLTVTSAHPEDSSF 
               
               
                   
                 peptide) 
                 YIC SAGRASTDTQY FGPGTRLTVL 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 102) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The TCRs 6-10 were found to have the following CDR3β sequences. TCR 6: ASTLQGRAGANVLT (SEQ ID NO: 29); TCR 7: ASSQPGLAGGGDTQY (SEQ ID NO: 59); TCR 8: ASSQSTSGSGSSIQY (SEQ ID NO: 60); TCR 9: ATSRDVGSVEQY (SEQ ID NO: 61); TCR10: ASSPNAGNTEAF (SEQ ID NO: 62). TCRs 5-10 also were found to have a cysteine N-terminal to the first amino acid (serine/alanine) and a TCRs 5-9 were found to have a phenylalanine C-terminal to the last amino acid (tyrosine/phenylalanine). 
     Results of deep sequencing from four different tumor fragments (FrTu) from patient 4360 show that TCR 5 existed in all the tested fragments, TCR 6, 8, and 9 existed in one fragment, TCR 7 existed in two fragments, and TCR 10 existed in none. 
     TCR virally transduced PBLs were tested for reactivity by co-culturing with autologous DC loaded with RAS G12V  or RAS WT  LP. DC loaded with DMSO were used as a negative control. PBL cultured with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibody-conjugated Dynabeads were used as a positive control. IFN-γ ELISPOT measurements were taken ( FIG.  6   ). No reactivity was detected in TCRs 6, 7, 9, or 10. TCR8 exhibited reactivity in all experiments and was not further pursued. 
     Example 8 
     This Example demonstrates the construction of a retroviral vector encoding TCR5, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
     An MSGV1 based-retroviral vector was constructed which encoded the TCR alpha and beta chain variable regions of TCR1 with the exception that the amino acid residue at position 2 of the N-terminal signal peptide of the beta chain was changed to an alanine in order to facilitate cloning into the vector. Additional modifications to the wild-type TCR were made, as described in more detail below. 
     Construction of the CD22-specific TCR was done as previously described (Jin et al., JCI Insight, 3(8): e99488 (2018), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Briefly, the TCRβ VDJ regions were fused to the mouse TCRβ constant chain, and the TCRα VJ regions were fused to the mouse TCRα constant chain. Without being bound to a particular theory or mechanism, it is believed that using the murine constant regions improves TCR expression and functionality (Cohen et al., Cancer Res., 66(17): 8878-8886 (2006)). 
     In addition, the murine TCRα and TCRβ constant chains were cysteine-modified, and transmembrane hydrophobic mutations were introduced into the murine TCRα constant chain. Without being bound to a particular theory or mechanism, it is believed that these modifications result in preferential pairing of the introduced TCR chains and enhanced TCR surface expression and functionality (Cohen et al., Cancer Res., 67(8):3898-903 (2007); Haga-Friedman et al., J. Immu., 188: 5538-5546 (2012)). 
     The TCRβ and TCRα chains were separated by a Furin SGSG P2A linker (RAKRSGSGATNFSLLKQAGDVEENPGP) (SEQ ID NO: 25) to ensure a comparable expression efficiency of the two chains (Szymczak et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 22(5):589-94 (2004)). 
     To allow cloning of the TCR expression cassette into the MSGV1 vector 5′NcoI site, the second amino acid in the TCRVβ chain (the second amino acid within the N-terminal signal peptide) was changed to an alanine (A). The expression cassette had the following configuration: 5′NcoI-VDJβ-mCβ-Furin/SGSG/P2A-VJα-mCα-SalI3′. The nucleotide sequence of the TCR was codon optimized for human T cell expression by Genscript codon optimization tool. This example describes a synthesis of bicistronic vector in 5′TCRβ to TCRα 3′ orientation, but the order of TCRβ to TCRα can be reversed. The vector insert sequences were codon optimized for an expression in human tissues. 
     Example 9 
     This Example demonstrates avidity of TCR1 and TCRS, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
     TCR1 and TCRS were virally transduced, using the retroviral vectors described in Examples 4 and 8, into PBLs that were then co-cultured with autologous DC loaded with RAS G12V  LP or RAS WT  LP in different concentrations. The results of flow cytometry assays of 4-1BB and OX40 (% 4-1BB+/OX40+) expression and ELISPOT measurements of IFN-γ secretion (number of spots per 3e4 cells) are shown in  FIGS.  7 A- 7 G . 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.