Melanoma-associated antigens (NY-ESO-1, MAGE-A3, Tyrosinase, TPTE) (MAAs)

Melanoma-associated antigens encoded by BNT111 refer to a specific quartet of tumor-associated antigens: New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (NY-ESO-1), Melanoma-associated antigen A3 (MAGE-A3), Tyrosinase, and Transmembrane phosphatase with tensin homology (TPTE). These antigens are highly prevalent in melanoma, with at least one of the four expressed in over 90% of cutaneous melanoma cases, while remaining largely absent in healthy tissues (Sahin et al., 2020, Nature). As therapeutic targets, they are utilized in the BNT111 mRNA vaccine to stimulate a systemic immune response. The vaccine delivers mRNA encoding these antigens to lymphoid-resident dendritic cells, which then present the antigens to the immune system to activate cytotoxic T cells and helper T cells (BioNTech, 2024). This multi-antigen approach is designed to minimize the risk of tumor escape through antigen loss. Clinical applications focus on advanced melanoma, particularly in patients who have progressed on prior checkpoint inhibitor therapy (NCT04526899).

Other names

NY-ESO-1MAGE-A3TyrosinaseTPTECancer-testis antigensMelanoma-associated antigen quartetCTAG1BMAGEA3TYRTransmembrane phosphatase with tensin homology

Induction of antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses via mRNA-encoded expression of tumor-associated antigens in dendritic cells.