C-C chemokine receptor type 9 and T-cell surface glycoprotein CD1a (CCR9/CD1a)

C-C chemokine receptor type 9 (CCR9) and T-cell surface glycoprotein CD1a are co-expressed markers that serve as a specific therapeutic target profile for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). CCR9 is a G protein-coupled receptor essential for the homing of T-cell progenitors to the thymus and the migration of mature T cells to the small intestine via its ligand CCL25 [UniProt: P51686]. CD1a is a non-classical MHC class I-like molecule involved in presenting lipid antigens to T cells and is highly expressed during specific stages of thymocyte development [UniProt: P06126]. In T-ALL, the simultaneous expression of these two proteins on malignant lymphoblasts allows for the development of dual-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. This dual-targeting approach is designed to increase the precision of the immunotherapy and prevent tumor escape that often occurs with single-antigen targeting [PubMed: 31695014]. While effective, this strategy requires careful monitoring for off-tumor effects in healthy tissues where these markers are physiologically present, such as the gastrointestinal tract and the thymus.

Other names

CCR9CD1aGPR-9-6C-C CKR-9CDw199T-cell surface antigen CD1aHTA1T6

Dual-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy designed to recognize and eliminate malignant cells expressing both CCR9 and CD1a through direct T-cell mediated cytotoxicity.