MAGE-A1 peptide presented by HLA-C*07:02 (No widely used single abbreviation for the specific pHLA complex, but often referred to as MAGE-A1/HLA-C*07:02 pHLA or MAGE-A1 peptide-HLA-C*07:02 complex)

The MAGE-A1 peptide presented by HLA-C*07:02 is a cell-surface complex formed when a peptide fragment derived from the MAGE-A1 protein—a cancer-testis antigen frequently aberrantly expressed in melanoma and various other cancers—is loaded onto the MHC class I molecule HLA-C*07:02. This peptide-MHC complex is recognized by autologous or engineered T cell receptors specific for the MAGE-A1 peptide in the context of HLA-C*07:02. Multiple studies have identified and characterized such TCRs for potential use in TCR gene therapies, aiming for selective elimination of MAGE-A1-expressing tumors in patients carrying the HLA-C*07:02 allele. This approach expands the applicability of personalized immunotherapy to a broader patient population by HLA type and tumor antigen expression. Ongoing research continues to characterize epitopes, TCR specificity, and safety for clinical translation.

Other names

MAGEA1 peptide/HLA-C*07:02 complexMAGE-A1-derived peptide/HLA-C*07:02 pHLAMAGE-A1/HLA-C*07:02Melanoma-associated antigen 1 peptide/HLA-C*07:02

Recognition and binding of the MAGE-A1 peptide/HLA-C*07:02 complex by engineered T cells (TCR-T or CAR-T), resulting in targeted killing of antigen-presenting cancer cells