Kita-Kyushu lung cancer antigen 1 peptide presented by HLA-A*01:01 (KK-LC-1/HLA-A*01:01)

Kita-Kyushu lung cancer antigen 1 (KK-LC-1), also known as Cancer/testis antigen 83 (CT83), is a protein that is highly expressed in several types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer, while its expression in normal tissues is restricted primarily to the testis [1][2]. The presentation of a specific KK-LC-1-derived peptide (typically residues 76-84) by the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) allele A*01:01 creates a unique epitope on the surface of tumor cells [3]. This peptide-MHC complex is a primary target for adoptive cell therapies, such as T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T-cells, which are designed to recognize this specific ligand and induce a cytotoxic immune response against the tumor [4]. Because the testis is an immune-privileged site and lacks HLA Class I expression, the risk of autoimmune damage to healthy tissue is theoretically low, making this an attractive target for precision oncology [1][5]. Clinical trials are currently investigating TCR-T cell therapies targeting this complex in patients with advanced solid tumors [4].

Other names

CT83 peptide/HLA-A*01:01Kita-Kyushu lung cancer antigen 1 (76-84) peptide/HLA-A*01:01KK-LC-1(76-84)/A*01:01Cancer/testis antigen 83 peptide/HLA-A*01:01

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