Lung cancer antigen

Lung cancer antigens are a diverse group of molecules, primarily proteins or glycoproteins, that are expressed on the surface or within the cytoplasm of lung cancer cells (Source: National Cancer Institute). These antigens are classified into several categories, including tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) like neoantigens, and tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) such as cancer-testis antigens (e.g., NY-ESO-1), overexpressed proteins (e.g., MUC1, HER2), and oncofetal antigens (e.g., Carcinoembryonic Antigen) (Source: PubMed, PMID: 25103823). They serve as critical targets for immunotherapy, including therapeutic vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and adoptive cell therapies, which aim to prime the immune system to recognize and destroy malignant cells (Source: Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 2018). In clinical practice, these antigens also function as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring treatment response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov). However, the effectiveness of targeting these antigens is often limited by the high degree of intratumoral heterogeneity and the ability of tumors to undergo antigen escape (Source: Nature Reviews Cancer, 2021). Furthermore, because many TAAs are expressed at low levels in normal tissues, there is a risk of on-target, off-tumor toxicity and autoimmune complications (Source: Frontiers in Oncology, 2020).

Other names

Tumor-associated antigensLung tumor antigensTumor-specific antigensLung cancer-associated antigensTAATSALCA

Therapeutic agents targeting lung cancer antigens work by inducing an active immune response (vaccines) or providing passive immunity (monoclonal antibodies) to facilitate the targeted destruction of tumor cells expressing these specific molecular markers (Source: Journal of Hematology & Oncology, 2023).