ASCI*: a potential targeted therapy for cancer

MAGE-A3 ASCI* targets a particular cancer antigen. It will only be used in patients whose cancer cells display the MAGE-A3 antigen. So patients will be tested to see if their cancer has the antigen before being given treatment.

MAGE-A3 ASCI* is being developed as a tumor-specific approach to cancer therapy. Its target, the MAGE-A3 antigen, is only found on tumors and not on healthy cells. This means that it is targeted specifically to the tumor. This is in contrast to most targeted cancer therapies, whose targets exist in healthy cells as well. Because MAGE-A3 ASCI* is tumor-specific, it is thought that treatment will leave healthy cells unaffected.

MAGE-A3 ASCI* has already been tested in patients with lung cancer and melanoma. The results led to the setting up of two large clinical studies. The study in lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer) is called the MAGRIT study. The study in melanoma is known as the DERMA study. Use the links on the right of this page if you would like to find out more about either of them.

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