Hepatocellular carcinoma-associated tumor antigen and neoantigen (HCC-Ag/NeoAg)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-associated tumor antigens and neoantigens represent a heterogeneous class of proteins that serve as critical targets for immunotherapy in liver cancer [2, 6]. Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), such as Glypican-3 (GPC3) and Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), are often overexpressed in HCC due to the reactivation of fetal gene programs, providing a therapeutic window for off-the-shelf treatments like CAR-T cells and monoclonal antibodies [1, 17, 19]. In contrast, neoantigens are unique peptides derived from somatic mutations (e.g., in TP53 or CTNNB1) that are entirely absent from normal tissues, making them ideal targets for personalized cancer vaccines [2, 15]. These antigens are processed and presented on the cell surface by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules, where they can be recognized by T-cell receptors [2, 10]. Therapeutic strategies targeting these molecules aim to overcome the immunosuppressive microenvironment of HCC by activating or engineering T-cells to selectively eliminate malignant cells [2, 7]. Clinical development often involves combining these antigen-targeted therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors to enhance anti-tumor efficacy and improve patient outcomes in advanced HCC [3, 5]. Monitoring of these targets often involves serum markers like AFP or tissue expression of GPC3 to select appropriate patients for therapy [1, 13].

Other names

HCC tumor antigensHCC neoantigensHepatoma-associated antigensLiver cancer-specific antigensTumor-specific antigens (TSA) in HCCTumor-associated antigens (TAA) in HCC

Induction of antigen-specific T-cell activation and expansion, direct cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) mediated lysis of tumor cells, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) targeting cells that express specific HCC-associated proteins [2, 10, 17].