MUC16 (СА125) as an immunotherapeutic target

The effectiveness and specificity of cancer immunotherapy is largely associated with the presence of malignant cells on the surface of target proteins that are absent or expressed at low cell surface of normal tissues. Mucin 16 (MUC16) is a glycoprotein carrying an antigenic determinant CA125; it is highly expressed on the surface of tumor cells in ovarian cancer and pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma, and thus, is a perspective target for anti-tumor immunotherapy. In the review are discussed the recent researches on targeted immunotherapy MUC16 - positive tumors with the use monoclonal antibodies, including their use for the creation of immunotoxins. Also are examined the approaches based on the use of recombinant chimerical proteins and genetically modified T-cells which are able to destroy tumor cells expressing MUC16.