Mucin-1 (CA242 glycoform) (MUC1 (CA242 glycoform))

The CA242 glycoform of mucin-1 refers to a specific carbohydrate-modified form of the transmembrane glycoprotein Mucin-1 (MUC1), a high-molecular-weight, highly glycosylated protein expressed on the surface of most epithelial cells and overexpressed/aberrantly glycosylated in many adenocarcinomas[1][2][3]. MUC1 consists of a large extracellular N-terminal subunit (with a variable number of tandem repeats, each heavily O-glycosylated) and a C-terminal subunit that spans the membrane and contains a short cytoplasmic tail involved in signal transduction[1][2]. The CA242 antigen is a cancer-associated glycan epitope expressed as a distinct glycoform of MUC1, especially in pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancers, where its presence can assist in diagnosis and disease monitoring[4]. Targeting MUC1 (including its CA242 glycoform) is under investigation for immunotherapy and cancer vaccine development, but therapeutic use is challenged by glycoform heterogeneity and off-tumor/on-target risks[1][3].

Other names

MUC-1Epithelial membrane antigenPolymorphic epithelial mucinPEMCA242 glycoform of MUC1

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by monoclonal antibodies - Cancer vaccine-induced immune response (T-cell activation against MUC1-positive cells)