Melanoma-associated antigen C2 peptide–HLA-A*02:01 complex (MAGE-C2–HLA-A*02:01 (or MAGE-C2/HLA-A*02:01))

The **Melanoma-associated antigen C2 peptide–HLA-A*02:01 complex** is an immunological structure formed by the presentation of a short peptide derived from the MAGE-C2 protein (a cancer/testis antigen) on the surface of cells in the binding groove of the HLA-A*02:01 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule[3][7]. This peptide–MHC combination is specifically recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and is present on the surface of cancer cells, particularly melanomas and other MAGE-C2–positive tumors. MAGE-C2 is not expressed in normal adult tissues (except testis), which makes this complex a promising and tumor-specific immunotherapeutic target. Adoptive T cell therapies and TCR gene engineering approaches are actively being developed to target this epitope in patients who are HLA-A*02:01 positive, with the aim of achieving selective killing of tumor cells without affecting most normal tissues[3][7]. Key peptide examples include MAGE-C2 peptide ALKDVEERV (residues 336–344) presented by HLA-A*02:01; these peptides elicit tumor-specific CTL responses and mediate tumor cell lysis[3][7]. Therapies under development use gene-modified T cells to recognize this complex and are subject to precautions regarding specificity and safety due to HLA restriction and cross-reactivity potential[7].

Other names

MAGE-C2 peptide presented by HLA-A2MAGE-C2(336-344)/HLA-A2MC2/A2 complexCancer/testis antigen C2–HLA-A*02:01MAGEC2/HLA-A*02:01

T cell receptor (TCR) recognition leading to cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation and selective killing of tumor cells expressing the complex[3][7]. TCR gene therapy introduces TCRs specific for this antigen, redirecting patient T cells to target tumor cells.