Ly6k (E4K8Y) XP^® Rabbit mAb #44263

Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) are a family of more than 100 proteins whose normal expression is largely restricted to immune privileged germ cells of the testis, ovary, and trophoblast cells of the placenta. Although most normal somatic tissues are void of CTA expression, due to epigenetic silencing of gene expression, their expression is upregulated in a wide variety of human solid and liquid tumors (1,2). As such, CTAs have garnered much attention as attractive targets for a variety of immunotherapy-based approaches to selectively attack tumors (3).

Ly6k is a member of the Ly6/urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor-like protein (uPAR)(LU) superfamily. It is expressed in testes where in interaction with another (uPAR)(LU) family member, TEX101, it is proposed to be necessary for the production of viable sperm (4). The human ortholog of this protein, LY6K, has been characterized to be a CTA. It is found to be upregulated in numerous types of cancer, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, and breast cancer (5,6).