Tumor-specific surface receptor

Tumor-specific surface receptor refers broadly to any cell surface receptor that is expressed at higher levels or uniquely on tumor cells compared to normal cells. These receptors are important therapeutic targets in oncology because their selective expression allows for targeted therapies that spare normal tissues. Examples include CD19 in B-cell malignancies, HER2 (ERBB2) in breast cancer, EGFR in several solid tumors, mesothelin in mesothelioma, BCMA in multiple myeloma, and CD38 in plasma cell disorders. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies and monoclonal antibodies are common strategies to target these receptors, leveraging their tumor-specificity to improve treatment efficacy and reduce side effects[2]. However, the term itself is not a specific molecular entity but a descriptor for a class of targets in cancer therapy.