HLA-A*02:01-NY-ESO-1 (157-165) complex (HLA-A*02:01/NY-ESO-1)

The HLA-A*02:01-NY-ESO-1 (157-165) complex is a specific peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) presented on the surface of cancer cells. NY-ESO-1, encoded by the CTAG1B gene, is a cancer-testis antigen expressed in germ cells and various cancers but absent in normal adult somatic tissues (PubMed: 16054063). The specific epitope SLLMWITQC (residues 157-165) is presented by the HLA-A*02:01 allele, which is prevalent in approximately 40-50% of the Caucasian population (PubMed: 24631835). This complex is a primary target for TCR-engineered T-cell therapies, such as Afamitresgene autoleucel (Tecelra), which was FDA-approved in 2024 for synovial sarcoma (FDA.gov). These therapies utilize a modified T-cell receptor to recognize the pMHC, triggering T-cell activation and subsequent tumor cell lysis. While highly specific, therapeutic challenges include the risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and potential cross-reactivity with similar endogenous peptides (PubMed: 23644515). Patient selection requires confirmation of both HLA-A*02:01 genotype and NY-ESO-1 expression in tumor tissue.

Other names

NY-ESO-1 peptide-MHC complexHLA-A*02:01/SLLMWITQCCTAG1B-HLA-A*02:01NY-ESO-1 157-165 epitopeHLA-A2/NY-ESO-1(157-165)

T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated recognition of the peptide-MHC complex leading to T-cell activation and tumor cell lysis.