SPANX family member B1 (SPANXB1) (SPANXB1)

SPANX family member B1 (SPANXB1), commonly referred to as SPANX-B, is a member of the sperm protein associated with the nucleus in the X chromosome (SPANX) family. It is classified as a cancer-testis antigen (CTA) because its physiological expression is strictly limited to post-meiotic spermatids in the testis, while it is aberrantly expressed in a variety of human malignancies, including melanoma, triple-negative breast cancer, and hematologic cancers. In these diseases, SPANX-B plays a significant role in promoting tumor progression by enhancing cell motility, invasion, and the formation of metastases. Due to its highly restricted normal tissue distribution and natural immunogenicity, SPANX-B is considered an ideal target for cancer immunotherapy. Research has demonstrated that it can elicit robust CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses, making it a primary candidate for the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines and T-cell-based treatments. Furthermore, its detection in circulating extracellular vesicles offers potential as a non-invasive prognostic biomarker for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy.

Other names

SPANX-BCancer/testis antigen 11.2CT11.2Sperm protein associated with the nucleus on the X chromosome B1Nuclear-associated protein SPAN-XbSPANXBSPANXB2SPANXF1SPANXF2

Induction of antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell immune responses to target and lyse tumor cells; indirect inhibition of protein expression and downstream metastatic pathways.