Preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma-derived peptide–major histocompatibility complex (PRAME-peptide-MHC) (PRAME-peptide-MHC)

Preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME)-derived peptide–major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a tumor-associated antigen complex presented on the surface of cancer cells. PRAME is a member of the cancer-testis antigen family, which is typically expressed during embryogenesis and in the testis but is aberrantly overexpressed in a wide range of solid and hematological malignancies (PubMed: 28630100, 30104354). The target specifically involves intracellular PRAME proteins being processed into peptides, such as the SLLQHLIGL epitope, and presented by MHC class I molecules, most commonly HLA-A*02:01 (PubMed: 15958671). This presentation allows the immune system, specifically T cells, to identify and eliminate malignant cells that express the internal PRAME protein. Therapeutic strategies targeting this complex include TCR-engineered T-cell therapies (TCR-T) and bispecific TCR molecules, which bypass the limitations of traditional antibodies that only target surface proteins (Immatics.com, Immunocore.com). Because PRAME expression is highly restricted in healthy adult tissues, it serves as a promising target for precision immunotherapy with a potentially wide therapeutic window.

Other names

PRAME-HLA complexPRAME-MHCHLA-A*02:01/PRAME peptide complexPRAME-derived peptide-HLA-A*02:01 complexSLLQHLIGL-HLA-A*02:01 complex

T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated recognition of the peptide-MHC complex and subsequent T-cell activation leading to tumor cell lysis (PubMed: 15958671, Immatics.com).