Melanoma-associated antigen C2–HLA-B*07:02 complex (MAGEC2/HLA-B*07:02)

The Melanoma-associated antigen C2–HLA-B*07:02 complex consists of a peptide derived from the cancer-testis antigen MAGEC2, bound and presented on the cell surface by the class I major histocompatibility complex molecule HLA-B*07:02. MAGEC2 is almost exclusively expressed in tumors and testis, making it a favored target for cancer immunotherapy. T cell therapies such as TCR-T or engineered TCRs (e.g., TSC-201-B0702) are designed to recognize tumor cells expressing this pMHC complex, allowing for specific targeting and killing of cancer cells while limiting off-tumor effects. Selection of patients for such therapies depends on the expression of both MAGEC2 (in the tumor) and HLA-B*07:02 (in the patient’s genotype). Safety hazards are mainly possible if low-level MAGEC2 is found in healthy tissues or if there is T cell cross-reactivity to unrelated peptides presented by the same HLA allele.

Other names

MAGE-C2–HLA-B*07:02Melanoma-associated antigen C2–HLA-B7MAGEC2–HLA-B7 complex

T cell receptor-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells displaying the MAGEC2 peptide in the context of HLA-B*07:02