LOXHD1 is an oncofusion-regulated antigen of ewing sarcoma

Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 15;15(1):13007. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-96877-9.

Abstract

Ewing Sarcoma (EwS) is a rare pediatric malignancy characterized by a unique t(11:22) (q24;q12) translocation resulting in the pathognomonic EWSR1::FLI1 fusion. Recent reports indicate that the EWSR1::FLI1 oncofusion drives aberrant expression of numerous transcripts, including Lipoxygenase Homology Domains 1 (LOXHD1). Given its highly restricted protein expression pattern and role in EwS tumorigenesis and metastasis, LOXHD1 may serve as a novel immunotherapeutic target in this malignancy. LOXHD1 immunogenic epitopes restricted to HLA-A*02:01 allowed for the isolation of a high avidity αβTCR. LOXHD1-specific TCR engineered CD8+ T cells conferred cytotoxic activity against a panel of HLA-A*02:01+ EwS tumor cell lines and adoptive transfer led to tumor eradication in a mouse xenograft model of EwS. This study nominates LOXHD1 as an oncofusion regulated, non-mutated tumor associated antigen (TAA) with expression limited to inner hair cells of the cochlea, adult testis, and EwS.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm* / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm* / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm* / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1 / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS / genetics
  • Sarcoma, Ewing* / genetics
  • Sarcoma, Ewing* / immunology
  • Sarcoma, Ewing* / metabolism
  • Sarcoma, Ewing* / pathology
  • Sarcoma, Ewing* / therapy

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1