Cell division cycle-associated protein 1 and Lymphocyte antigen 6 family member K (CDCA1/LY6K)

Cell division cycle-associated protein 1 (CDCA1, also known as NUF2) and Lymphocyte antigen 6 family member K (LY6K, also known as URLC10) are two distinct cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) that are frequently co-targeted in cancer immunotherapy [2.4.1, 3.3.2]. CDCA1 is an essential component of the NDC80 kinetochore complex, where it plays a critical role in stabilizing kinetochore-microtubule attachments and ensuring accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis [2.2.3, 2.2.4]. LY6K is a GPI-anchored cell surface protein involved in cell growth, migration, and sperm-egg binding [3.2.2, 3.3.3]. Both proteins are highly overexpressed in a wide range of malignancies, including lung, esophageal, and gastric cancers, but have very limited expression in normal adult tissues except for the testis [2.3.1, 2.4.2]. This specific expression pattern makes them attractive targets for peptide-based vaccines designed to elicit a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against tumor cells [2.4.1, 3.3.1]. Clinical trials have evaluated multipeptide vaccines containing epitopes from both CDCA1 and URLC10, demonstrating that they are generally safe and capable of inducing antigen-specific immune responses in patients with advanced cancers [2.1.1, 3.4.4]. Therapeutic challenges include the requirement for specific HLA genotypes, such as HLA-A*2402, for patient eligibility [2.4.1, 3.4.2].

Other names

NUF2URLC10LY6KKNTC2CT97CO16hNuf2Up-regulated in lung cancer 10Kinetochore-associated protein 2Lymphocyte antigen 6 family member KCell division cycle-associated protein 1

Peptide-based immunotherapy designed to stimulate a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against tumor cells expressing these antigens; small molecules may inhibit kinetochore function.