NY-ESO-1 peptide-HLA-A2 complex

The **NY-ESO-1 peptide-HLA-A2 complex** refers to a tumor-specific peptide epitope derived from the cancer-testis antigen NY-ESO-1 (most often the SLLMWITQC or SLLMWITQCFL sequence from amino acids 157–165/167), presented in the context of the HLA-A2 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule on tumor cells.[2][4][6][10] This complex forms a highly immunogenic target recognized by endogenous or engineered CD8+ T cells, enabling selective tumor cell lysis in HLA-A2+ patients whose tumors express NY-ESO-1 antigen.[3][4][11] It is a validated and extensively studied target in immunotherapy, with ongoing development of TCR-engineered T cells, peptide vaccines, and TCR-like CAR or antibody therapies exploiting this complex for treatment of various malignancies.[3][4][9][11] The effectiveness and specificity are determined by the exact peptide sequence and the patient's HLA type, making HLA and NY-ESO-1 status critical biomarkers for inclusion and monitoring in clinical trials.[5][8][11]

Other names

HLA-A2/NY-ESO-1 (157-165) complexHLA-A*02:01/NY-ESO-1 complexHLA-A2-restricted NY-ESO-1 peptide complex

Direct binding of TCRs on engineered T cells to the NY-ESO-1/HLA-A2 complex, leading to tumor cell recognition and lysis; Monoclonal antibody or CAR-T constructs recognize the NY-ESO-1 peptide presented by HLA-A2, triggering immune cell activation and cytotoxicity; Peptide vaccination leads to expansion of endogenous NY-ESO-1/HLA-A2-specific T cells