Cancer-testis antigen peptide-HLA-A*11:01 complex (CTA-HLA-A*11:01)

The Cancer-testis antigen (CTA) peptide presented by HLA-A*11:01 complex is a specific peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) target used in advanced cancer immunotherapy (Scanlan et al., 2004). CTAs are a group of proteins, including NY-ESO-1, MAGE-A3, and PRAME, that exhibit restricted expression in the immune-privileged germ cells of the testis but are aberrantly expressed in various malignancies such as melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and synovial sarcoma (Gnjatic et al., 2006). HLA-A*11:01 is a common Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Class I allele, particularly prevalent in East Asian populations, making this specific pMHC complex a critical target for expanding the reach of TCR-T cell therapies in these regions (Allele Frequency Net Database). Drugs targeting this complex, such as the TCR-T therapy TAEST16001, utilize engineered T-cell receptors to recognize the CTA peptide within the HLA-A*11:01 groove, triggering a potent cytotoxic immune response against tumor cells (Zhao et al., 2021). This target is highly valued for its tumor-specificity, as the absence of HLA expression in healthy testis tissue minimizes the risk of on-target off-tumor toxicity (Simpson et al., 2005). However, therapeutic development requires rigorous screening to avoid off-target cross-reactivity with similar peptides found in vital organs.

Other names

CTA-HLA-A*11:01 complexCancer-testis antigen-HLA-A11 complexpMHC complex (HLA-A*11:01)Tumor-specific antigen-HLA complexCTA-HLA-A11

T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated recognition of the peptide-HLA complex on the tumor cell surface, leading to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activation, secretion of perforins and granzymes, and subsequent tumor cell lysis (Zhao et al., 2021).