Ovarian cancer cell antigens

Ovarian cancer cell antigens represent a diverse group of proteins and glycoproteins that are significantly overexpressed on the surface of ovarian tumor cells compared to normal tissues. These molecules, commonly referred to as tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), play pivotal roles in tumor biology, including promoting cell growth, facilitating metastasis, and aiding in immune evasion. Prominent examples include MUC16 (the precursor of the CA-125 biomarker), Folate Receptor Alpha (FOLR1), and Mesothelin. Because of their differential expression, these antigens serve as essential targets for modern therapeutic interventions, such as monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. While they offer a path toward precision oncology, therapeutic challenges remain, including high tumor heterogeneity and the risk of off-tumor toxicities in healthy tissues that express low levels of these proteins, such as the fallopian tubes or mesothelium.

Other names

Ovarian tumor-associated antigensOvarian cancer markersOvarian tumor antigensTAAsEpithelial ovarian cancer antigens

Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) mediated cytotoxicity, Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell activation, Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), T-cell priming via dendritic cell vaccination