HLA-A*24:02-restricted Kinesin family member 20A peptide epitope (HLA-A*24:02/KIF20A)

The HLA-A*24:02-restricted Kinesin family member 20A (KIF20A) peptide epitope is a specific molecular complex presented on the surface of cancer cells. KIF20A, also known as MKLP2, is a kinesin-like motor protein essential for cytokinesis and is significantly overexpressed in various malignancies, including pancreatic and gastric cancers, while remaining nearly absent in normal adult tissues except the testis (UniProt O95235; PMID: 19443612). The HLA-A*24:02 allele is one of the most prevalent MHC class I alleles in East Asian populations, making this specific peptide-HLA complex a high-priority target for immunotherapy in these regions (PMID: 24507008). Therapeutic strategies typically involve peptide vaccines, such as KIF20A-66, which aim to prime the patient's immune system to generate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that specifically recognize and destroy cells displaying this epitope (PMID: 22575351). Clinical studies have demonstrated that targeting this complex can induce robust immune responses and potentially improve survival outcomes in patients with advanced cancers (PMID: 24507008). However, challenges such as HLA downregulation by tumors and the need for precise patient stratification based on HLA type remain critical considerations for clinical efficacy.

Other names

KIF20A-66 peptideKIF20A-derived peptideHLA-A24-restricted KIF20A epitopeMitotic kinesin-like protein 2 peptideMKLP2 peptideKVFGADLNTV peptide

Induction of peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that recognize the HLA-A*24:02/KIF20A complex on tumor cells, leading to cell-mediated lysis.