T cell immunotherapy typically targets two classes of antigens: private antigens and public antigens. Public antigens are those shared among multiple patients, with tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) being antigens that are highly expressed in tumor cells and present in healthy cells but at lower levels.
Targeted therapy against TAAs is a crucial approach in cancer treatment, with several immunotherapy drugs relying on this mechanism proving to be very effective clinically. The development of drugs targeting TAAs remains an active area of research, with numerous targeted drugs for different types of tumors currently undergoing preclinical or clinical testing. Antibodies targeting TAAs can not only directly kill tumor cells through ADCC effects but also serve as diagnostic markers or innovative additions to traditional cancer therapies.
