What Mechanisms Lead to the Development of Antigen Loss Variants?
Several mechanisms can lead to the development of ALVs in cancer. These include:
Genetic mutations that result in the loss or alteration of genes encoding tumor antigens. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation or histone modification, that silence antigen expression. Immune selective pressure, where immune cells target and eliminate cancer cells expressing specific antigens, leading to the survival of antigen-negative variants. Therapeutic pressure, where treatments targeting specific antigens inadvertently select for cancer cells that have lost or altered these antigens.
