Tumor cells expressing stress-induced ligands and tumor-associated antigens

Tumor cells expressing stress-induced ligands and diverse tumor-associated antigens refers to a malignant cell population characterized by the surface expression of molecules signaling cellular distress alongside specific proteins associated with tumorigenesis. Stress-induced ligands, including the MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A and B (MICA/B) and UL16-binding proteins (ULBPs), are typically absent on healthy cells but upregulated in response to oncogenic transformation, DNA damage, or oxidative stress, serving as ligands for the NKG2D receptor on cytotoxic immune cells (PMID: 29305535). Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are a broader class of proteins, such as HER2, CEA, or MAGE family members, that are overexpressed or mutated in cancer cells (PMID: 25131009). Therapeutic strategies targeting this profile often utilize engineered cell therapies, such as NKG2D-based CAR-T cells (e.g., CYAD-01), which are designed to recognize the broad array of stress ligands to overcome tumor heterogeneity and antigen escape (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03018405). By targeting both the stress signals of a cell and its specific antigenic markers, these therapies aim to achieve more robust and selective destruction of malignant tissue. However, because this entry describes a complex cellular phenotype rather than a single molecular entity, it is classified as a composite cellular target rather than a discrete pharmacological receptor or enzyme.

Other names

Stress-ligand expressing tumor cellsTAA-positive tumor cellsNKG2D ligand-expressing cancer cellsMalignant cells expressing stress-induced ligands

Targeted cell lysis via chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or NKG2D receptor binding to surface ligands and antigens, leading to cytotoxic T-cell or NK-cell activation.