NY-ESO-1 peptide 157–165 presented by HLA-A*02 (NY-ESO-1:157-165/HLA-A*02)

NY-ESO-1 peptide 157–165 presented by HLA-A*02 is a specific peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) that serves as a critical target for cancer immunotherapy, particularly T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T-cell therapies. NY-ESO-1, encoded by the CTAG1B gene, is a member of the cancer-testis antigen family; it is typically expressed in the germ cells of the testis (which lack MHC expression) but is aberrantly overexpressed in a wide range of cancers, including synovial sarcoma, melanoma, and multiple myeloma (UniProt P78358). The specific nonamer peptide SLLMWITQC (residues 157–165) is processed intracellularly and presented on the cell surface by the HLA-A*02:01 allele, the most common MHC Class I allele in many populations (PMID: 10630601). This pMHC complex is recognized by the TCR of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, making it an ideal target for adoptive cell transfer therapies like Afamitresgene autoleucel and Letetresgene autoleucel. Because NY-ESO-1 expression is restricted to immune-privileged sites in healthy individuals, targeting this complex offers a high degree of tumor specificity, although clinical monitoring for cytokine release syndrome and potential cross-reactivity remains essential (PMID: 34291204).

Other names

SLLMWITQC-HLA-A*02 complexNY-ESO-1 (157-165) HLA-A2CTAG1B peptide 157-165/HLA-A*02NY-ESO-1:157-165/HLA-A*02:01

Engineered T-cell receptors (TCRs) or TCR-like antibodies bind specifically to the NY-ESO-1 peptide-HLA complex on the tumor cell surface, triggering cytotoxic T-cell activation and tumor cell lysis.