cancerspecific

Cancerspecific refers to biological features that are unique to cancer cells or tumors, enabling discrimination from normal tissues. In practice, the term describes antigens or molecular alterations that are predominantly or exclusively present in cancer, as opposed to generic markers that are also found in healthy cells.

Key categories include tumor-specific antigens (TSAs), including neoantigens derived from somatic mutations that produce novel peptides, and cancer-testis antigens expressed in tumors but restricted to immune-privileged tissues like the testis. Oncofetal antigens are re-expressed in cancers, representing another form of cancer-specific biology though not universally exclusive to tumors. Many TSAs are patient- or tumor-type specific, which can complicate broad diagnostic or therapeutic use.

Applications: in diagnostics, TSAs can aid tumor identification and profiling; in therapy, cancer-specific targets are pursued in vaccines, T cell therapies (such as TCR-engineered cells) and antibody-drug conjugates. The goal is to maximize tumor selectivity while minimizing damage to normal tissues.

Challenges include tumor heterogeneity, antigen loss variants under selective pressure, limited expression of truly cancer-specific targets, and safety concerns from potential cross-reactivity. Ongoing research seeks to identify robust cancer-specific targets and to develop personalized immunotherapies that exploit neoantigens.

See also: tumor antigen, neoantigen, cancer immunotherapy.