Leukemia-associated surface antigens (LASA)

Leukemia-associated surface antigens (LASAs) are a heterogeneous group of proteins, primarily Cluster of Differentiation (CD) markers, that are overexpressed or aberrantly expressed on the plasma membrane of leukemic cells. These antigens, including CD19, CD22, CD33, and CD123, serve as critical biomarkers for the immunophenotypic classification of hematologic malignancies and as selective targets for advanced immunotherapies. In the context of disease, these surface molecules often play functional roles in cell signaling, adhesion to the bone marrow niche, and the maintenance of leukemic stem cell (LSC) populations. Therapeutic strategies targeting LASAs include monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. While these therapies have revolutionized the treatment of leukemia, challenges remain regarding on-target, off-tumor toxicities, as many of these antigens are also expressed at lower levels on healthy hematopoietic progenitors or other tissues. Consequently, the identification of highly specific leukemia-associated surface antigens remains a primary focus for improving the therapeutic index of targeted oncology treatments.

Other names

Leukemia-associated antigens (LAA)Leukemia-specific antigens (LSA)Myeloid-associated antigensLymphoid-associated antigensCluster of Differentiation (CD) markersLeukemia-associated membrane antigens

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), T-cell engagement via bispecific antibodies, targeted delivery of cytotoxic payloads via antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and direct cell lysis by chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells.