Tumor-associated glycoprotein 72 explained

Tumor-associated glycoprotein 72 (TAG-72) is a glycoprotein found on the surface of many cancer cells, including ovary,^{[1] [2] [3]} breast, colon,^[4] lung, and pancreatic cancers.^{[5] [6]} It is a mucin-like molecule with a molar mass of over 1000 kDa.^[7]

TAG-72 is a tumor marker measured with radioimmunoassays like CA 72-4, which uses the monoclonal antibodies indium (¹¹¹In) satumomab pendetide and iodine (¹²⁵I) minretumomab.^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]} This assay has a good specificity for gastric cancer, with a correlation to the neoplasia's extension. It is used to identify relapses of the disease and to follow up the treatment.

TAG-72 is also the target of the anti-cancer drugs anatumomab mafenatox and minretumomab.

Notes and References

1. Ponnusamy MP, Venkatraman G, Singh AP, Chauhan SC, Johansson SL, Jain M, Smith L, Davis JS, Remmenga SW, Batra SK. Expression of TAG-72 in ovarian cancer and its correlation with tumor stage and patient prognosis. Cancer Lett. 2007 Jun 28;251(2):247-57. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2006.11.025. Epub 2007 Jan 8. PMID: 17210225.
2. Murad JP, Kozlowska AK, Lee HJ, Ramamurthy M, Chang WC, Yazaki P, Colcher D, Shively J, Cristea M, Forman SJ, Priceman SJ. Effective Targeting of TAG72+ Peritoneal Ovarian Tumors via Regional Delivery of CAR-Engineered T Cells. Front Immunol. 2018 Nov 19;9:2268. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02268. PMID: 30510550; PMCID: PMC6254427.
3. Shu R, Evtimov VJ, Hammett MV, Nguyen NN, Zhuang J, Hudson PJ, Howard MC, Pupovac A, Trounson AO, Boyd RL. Engineered CAR-T cells targeting TAG-72 and CD47 in ovarian cancer. Mol Ther Oncolytics. 2021 Jan 16;20:325-341. doi: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.01.002. PMID: 33614914; PMCID: PMC7868933.
4. Hege KM, Bergsland EK, Fisher GA, Nemunaitis JJ, Warren RS, McArthur JG, Lin AA, Schlom J, June CH, Sherwin SA. Safety, tumor trafficking and immunogenicity of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells specific for TAG-72 in colorectal cancer. J Immunother Cancer. 2017 Mar 21;5:22. doi: 10.1186/s40425-017-0222-9. PMID: 28344808; PMCID: PMC5360066.
5. http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=45925 TAG-72 antigen
6. 10.1038/nrc3236. 22437872. Antibody therapy of cancer. Nature Reviews Cancer. 12. 4. 278–87. 2012. Scott. Andrew M.. Wolchok. Jedd D.. Old. Lloyd J.. 205469234.
7. Sheer. Donald G.. Purification and Composition of the Human Tumor-associated Glycoprotein (TAG-72) Defined by Monoclonal Antibodies CC49 and B72.3. Cancer Research. 48. 6811–6818. 1988. 3180090. Schlom. J. Cooper. HL. 23.
8. Louhimo J, Alfthan H, Stenman UH, Haglund C . Serum HCG beta and CA 72-4 are stronger prognostic factors than CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 242 in pancreatic cancer . Oncology . 66 . 2 . 126–31 . 2004 . 15138364 . 10.1159/000077438 . 25798287 .
9. Louhimo J, Carpelan-Holmström M, Alfthan H, Stenman UH, Järvinen HJ, Haglund C . Serum HCG beta, CA 72-4 and CEA are independent prognostic factors in colorectal cancer . Int. J. Cancer . 101 . 6 . 545–8 . October 2002 . 12237895 . 10.1002/ijc.90009. free .
10. Louhimo J, Kokkola A, Alfthan H, Stenman UH, Haglund C . Preoperative hCGbeta and CA 72-4 are prognostic factors in gastric cancer . Int. J. Cancer . 111 . 6 . 929–33 . October 2004 . 15300805 . 10.1002/ijc.20321. 24698852 . free .
11. Mattar R, Alves de Andrade CR, DiFavero GM, Gama-Rodrigues JJ, Laudanna AA . Preoperative serum levels of CA 72-4, CEA, CA 19-9, and alpha-fetoprotein in patients with gastric cancer . Rev Hosp Clin Fac Med Sao Paulo . 57 . 3 . 89–92 . 2002 . 12118264 . 10.1590/s0041-87812002000300001. free .
12. Guadagni F, Roselli M, Cosimelli M, etal . Correlation between tumor-associated glycoprotein 72 mucin levels in tumor and serum of colorectal patients as measured by the quantitative CA 72-4 immunoassay . Cancer Res. . 56 . 22 . 5293–8 . November 1996 . 8912871 .