Tumour-associated antigens

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Tumour-associated antigens

Unless otherwise stated all data on this page refer to the human proteins. Gene information is provided for human (Hs), mouse (Mm) and rat (Rn).

Overview

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This is a set of diverse proteins that have been identified as tumour antigens. They are useful tumour markers (e.g. for diagnosis and/or prognosis) and are often potential candidates for use in cancer therapy.

Targets

Targets of relevance to immunopharmacology are highlighted in blue

folate receptor alpha Show summary »« Hide summary

Target Id

3212

Nomenclature

folate receptor alpha

Genes

FOLR1 (Hs)

Ensembl ID

ENSG00000110195 (Hs)

UniProtKB AC

P15328 (Hs)

Antibodies

mirvetuximab soravtansine (Binding) pK_d 10.1 [1]

Comment

FOLR1 is expressed by some cancer cells, and is an active oncology drug target [5].

glypican 3 Show summary »« Hide summary More detailed page go icon to follow link

MAGE family member A3 Show summary »« Hide summary More detailed page go icon to follow link

Target Id	3185
Nomenclature	MAGE family member A3
Previous and unofficial names	antigen MZ2-D \| cancer/testis antigen family 1, member 3 \| MAGE-3 antigen \| melanoma-associated antigen 3
Genes	MAGEA3 (Hs)
Ensembl ID	ENSG00000221867 (Hs)
UniProtKB AC	P43357 (Hs)
Comment	MAGEA3 is a tumour-specific antigen that is expressed in a variety of cancers, but is not detected in normal cells. Attempts to target this protein using an anti-MAGEA3 vaccine [3,7] in melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer failed in late-stage testing [8]. Most recently, it was identified as the predominant driver of progression in hepatocellular carcinoma [2].

STEAP family member 1 Show summary »« Hide summary

Target Id

3303

Nomenclature

STEAP family member 1

Genes

STEAP1 (Hs), Steap1 (Mm), Steap1 (Rn)

Ensembl ID

ENSG00000164647 (Hs), ENSMUSG00000015652 (Mm), ENSRNOG00000000017 (Rn)

UniProtKB AC

Q9UHE8 (Hs), Q6P8X4 (Mm)

Antibodies

xaluritamig (Binding) pK_d 10.5 [4]

Comment

STEAP1 is a cell-surface antigen that is highly expressed in prostate cancer and metastases, and possibly other solid tumour types. It is a metalloreductase protein with functions in cell-cell junctions. Expression is low in normal tissues, making STEAP1-targeting agents a mechanistically attractive approach to achieve tumour selectivity.

trophoblast glycoprotein Show summary »« Hide summary More detailed page go icon to follow link

Target Id	3009
Nomenclature	trophoblast glycoprotein
Previous and unofficial names	5T4 \| 5T4-Ag \| 5T4 oncofetal antigen \| Wnt-activated inhibitory factor 1 \| WAIF1
Genes	TPBG (Hs), Tpbg (Mm), Tpbg (Rn)
Ensembl ID	ENSG00000146242 (Hs), ENSMUSG00000035274 (Mm), ENSRNOG00000010694 (Rn)
UniProtKB AC	Q13641 (Hs), Q9Z0L0 (Mm), Q5PQV5 (Rn)
Comment	Trophoblast glycoprotein (a.k.a. 5T4 oncofetal antigen) is a 72-kDa oncofetal protein whose expression on trophoblast cells mediates survival of the foetus as a semi-allograft in the mother, and is overexpressed in several cancer types where it allows the tumour to evade immune surveillance by the host.

tumor associated calcium signal transducer 2 Show summary »« Hide summary More detailed page go icon to follow link

Target Id	2837
Nomenclature	tumor associated calcium signal transducer 2
Previous and unofficial names	GA733-1 \| RS7 antigen [6] \| M1S1 \| EGP-1 \| TROP2 \| TROP-2 \| tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2
Genes	TACSTD2 (Hs), Tacstd2 (Mm), Tacstd2 (Rn)
Ensembl ID	ENSG00000184292 (Hs), ENSMUSG00000051397 (Mm), ENSRNOG00000007740 (Rn)
UniProtKB AC	P09758 (Hs), Q8BGV3 (Mm), Q6P9Z6 (Rn)
Comment	TROP2 has been exploited as a target for cancer immunotherapy.

References

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1. Ab O, Whiteman KR, Bartle LM, Sun X, Singh R, Tavares D, LaBelle A, Payne G, Lutz RJ, Pinkas J et al.. (2015) IMGN853, a Folate Receptor-α (FRα)-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate, Exhibits Potent Targeted Antitumor Activity against FRα-Expressing Tumors. Mol Cancer Ther, 14 (7): 1605-13. [PMID:25904506]

2. Craig AJ, Garcia-Lezana T, Ruiz de Galarreta M, Villacorta-Martin C, Kozlova EG, Martins-Filho SN, von Felden J, Ahsen ME, Bresnahan E, Hernandez-Meza G et al.. (2021) Transcriptomic characterization of cancer-testis antigens identifies MAGEA3 as a driver of tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma. PLoS Genet, 17 (6): e1009589. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009589 [PMID:34166362]

3. Kruit WH, Suciu S, Dreno B, Mortier L, Robert C, Chiarion-Sileni V, Maio M, Testori A, Dorval T, Grob JJ et al.. (2013) Selection of immunostimulant AS15 for active immunization with MAGE-A3 protein: results of a randomized phase II study of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Melanoma Group in Metastatic Melanoma. J Clin Oncol, 31 (19): 2413-20. [PMID:23715572]

4. Nolan-Stevaux O, Li C, Liang L, Zhan J, Estrada J, Osgood T, Li F, Zhang H, Case R, Murawsky CM et al.. (2024) AMG 509 (Xaluritamig), an Anti-STEAP1 XmAb 2+1 T-cell Redirecting Immune Therapy with Avidity-Dependent Activity against Prostate Cancer. Cancer Discov, 14 (1): 90-103. [PMID:37861452]

5. Scaranti M, Cojocaru E, Banerjee S, Banerji U. (2020) Exploiting the folate receptor α in oncology. Nat Rev Clin Oncol, 17 (6): 349-359. [PMID:32152484]

6. Stein R, Basu A, Goldenberg DM, Lloyd KO, Mattes MJ. (1994) Characterization of cluster 13: the epithelial/carcinoma antigen recognized by MAb RS7. Int J Cancer Suppl, 8: 98-102. [PMID:8194903]

7. Ulloa-Montoya F, Louahed J, Dizier B, Gruselle O, Spiessens B, Lehmann FF, Suciu S, Kruit WH, Eggermont AM, Vansteenkiste J et al.. (2013) Predictive gene signature in MAGE-A3 antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy. J Clin Oncol, 31 (19): 2388-95. [PMID:23715562]

8. Vansteenkiste JF, Cho BC, Vanakesa T, De Pas T, Zielinski M, Kim MS, Jassem J, Yoshimura M, Dahabreh J, Nakayama H et al.. (2016) Efficacy of the MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic as adjuvant therapy in patients with resected MAGE-A3-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (MAGRIT): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol, 17 (6): 822-835. [PMID:27132212]

How to cite this family page

Database page citation:

Tumour-associated antigens. Accessed on 24/05/2025. IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY, http://www.guidetopharmacology.org/GRAC/FamilyDisplayForward?familyId=904.

Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY citation:

Alexander SPH, Kelly E, Mathie AA, Peters JA, Veale EL, Armstrong JF, Buneman OP, Faccenda E, Harding SD, Spedding M, Cidlowski JA, Fabbro D, Davenport AP, Striessnig J, Davies JA et al. (2023) The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2023/24: Introduction and Other Protein Targets. Br J Pharmacol. 180 Suppl 2:S1-22.