NT5E
Overview
NT5E (5’-Nucleotidase Ecto, also known as CD73) is an ectoenzyme that converts AMP to adenosine at the cell surface, thereby generating an immunosuppressive microenvironment. It is a key regulator of purinergic signaling in tumors and has emerged as a candidate immune evasion gene. In breast cancer, NT5E was identified as a novel homozygous-deletion-targeted candidate linked to immune modulation.
Alterations observed in the corpus
- NT5E (CD73) newly identified as a homozygous-deletion-targeted candidate linked to immune evasion / immune modulation in breast cancer in a 2,433-tumor whole-genome/exome sequencing study (METABRIC/ICGC cohort) PMID:27161491
Cancer types (linked)
- Breast cancer: novel homozygous-deletion target with putative immune evasion function PMID:27161491
Co-occurrence and mutual exclusivity
- Nominated alongside JAK1 as an HD-targeted immune evasion candidate in breast cancer PMID:27161491
Therapeutic relevance
- NT5E/CD73 is an emerging immunotherapy target; anti-CD73 antibodies are in clinical development. The identification of NT5E homozygous deletions in breast cancer may indicate a paradoxical loss-of-function context versus the more commonly reported over-expression PMID:27161491
Open questions
- Whether NT5E loss in breast cancer promotes or suppresses immune evasion (given CD73’s canonical role as an immunosuppressive enzyme when overexpressed) is unresolved PMID:27161491
Sources
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