T-cell receptor gamma alternate reading frame protein (TARP) (TARP)

The T-cell receptor gamma alternate reading frame protein (TARP) is a tumor-associated antigen that is highly expressed in the mitochondria of prostate and breast cancer cells (Wolfgang et al., 2000; Cheng et al., 2007). It is encoded by a transcript from the T-cell receptor gamma (TRG) locus, which is normally rearranged in T cells but remains un-rearranged and is transcribed from an alternative reading frame in these specific malignancies (Wolfgang et al., 2000). TARP is found in over 95% of prostate adenocarcinomas and approximately 50% of breast cancers, while its expression in normal tissues is largely restricted to the salivary glands (Maeda et al., 2004). Its biological role is linked to promoting the survival and proliferation of cancer cells, potentially through its localization and function within the mitochondria (Cheng et al., 2007). Due to its high tumor specificity and prevalence, TARP is a primary target for cancer immunotherapies, including peptide-based vaccines and T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T cells (Wood et al., 2016; Epel et al., 2008). Clinical trials have demonstrated that TARP-targeted vaccines can successfully induce antigen-specific T-cell responses and are generally well-tolerated in patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer (Wood et al., 2016).

Other names

TCRG alternate reading frame proteinT-cell receptor gamma locus proteinTARP antigen

Induction of a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against tumor cells expressing the TARP protein on their surface in the context of MHC class I molecules (Wood et al., 2016).