Cancer-cell surface target

A cancer-cell surface target is a broad, non-specific category referring to any protein, glycoprotein, or glycolipid expressed on the extracellular membrane of a tumor cell. These molecules are of primary interest in oncology because their external orientation makes them accessible to large-molecule therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells (Nature Reviews Cancer, 2021). While some targets are unique to tumors, many are overexpressed versions of normal proteins, which can lead to significant safety concerns regarding 'on-target, off-tumor' effects on healthy tissues (NIH, 2023). The biological roles of these targets often include driving oncogenic signaling pathways, mediating cell-cell interactions, or facilitating immune system avoidance (PubMed, 2022). Because this term describes a location and class rather than a specific biological entity, it encompasses a wide array of distinct molecules such as HER2, CD20, and PD-L1. Identification of these targets is typically achieved through proteomics or transcriptomics to ensure high differential expression between malignant and normal cells. Therapeutic success depends on the target's internalizing properties for ADCs or its density for CAR-T cell activation, while resistance can occur through antigen shedding or downregulation.

Other names

Tumor-associated surface antigenCell surface tumor antigenCancer surface markerTumor-associated antigen

Varies depending on the specific surface molecule; generally involves targeted binding by antibodies or engineered immune cells to induce apoptosis, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), or deliver cytotoxic payloads.