cancerantigen

A cancer antigen is a molecule that is present on the surface of cancer cells, or produced by them, which can stimulate an immune response. These antigens can be proteins, carbohydrates, or other biomolecules. They are often abnormal or overexpressed compared to their presence on normal cells. The immune system has the capability to recognize these cancer antigens as foreign or altered, and this recognition is the basis for many cancer immunotherapies.

There are several categories of cancer antigens. Tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) are unique to cancer cells and are not found on normal cells. These arise from mutations in the DNA of cancer cells. Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are also found on cancer cells but can be present at lower levels or in different forms on some normal cells. These may be due to altered expression patterns or post-translational modifications.

The presence of cancer antigens is crucial for the development of cancer vaccines and other immunotherapies aimed at harnessing the body's own immune system to fight cancer. By identifying and targeting these antigens, researchers and clinicians are developing strategies to induce a more effective and specific immune attack against cancerous growths. Understanding the nature and diversity of cancer antigens is an ongoing area of research in oncology and immunology.