New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (157-165) peptide presented by HLA-A*02:01 (NY-ESO-1/HLA-A2)

The NY-ESO-1 (157-165) peptide presented by HLA-A*02:01 is a highly specific cancer immunotherapy target consisting of a 9-amino acid fragment (SLLMWITQC) derived from the New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (NY-ESO-1) protein. NY-ESO-1 is a well-characterized cancer-testis antigen that is typically expressed in the germ cells of the testis but is epigenetically silenced in normal adult somatic tissues, while being aberrantly re-expressed in various malignancies such as synovial sarcoma and melanoma (PubMed: 16322259). When this intracellular protein is degraded by the proteasome, the 157-165 peptide is transported to the endoplasmic reticulum and loaded onto HLA-A*02:01 molecules for presentation on the cell surface. This specific peptide-MHC complex serves as a 'red flag' for the immune system, specifically for T-cells equipped with compatible T-cell receptors (TCRs). Therapeutic strategies targeting this complex include TCR-engineered T-cell therapies (TCR-T), such as the FDA-approved afamitresgene autoleucel, and bispecific T-cell engagers designed to redirect immune cells to kill NY-ESO-1-positive tumor cells (FDA: 2024; J Clin Oncol: 2018).

Other names

NY-ESO-1 SLLMWITQC peptide-HLA-A*02:01 complexCTAG1B (157-165) peptide-MHC complexHLA-A*02:01/NY-ESO-1(157-165)NY-ESO-1 p157-165

Recognition by engineered T-cell receptors (TCRs) or bispecific molecules that bind specifically to the peptide-MHC complex, triggering T-cell mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells.