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Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 (LAG-3)

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Cancer Therapeutic Targets

Abstract

Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3, CD223) is a protein expressed on the surface of activated T cells, regulatory T cells (Treg), natural killer (NK) cells, B cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. LAG-3 signaling inhibits T cell activation and enhances regulatory T cell function (Camisaschi et al. 2010; Grosso et al. 2007; Joosten et al. 2007; Park et al. 2012). Like other molecules such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed death-1 (PD-1), and T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3), LAG-3 has attracted interest in oncology for its role as a negative regulator of T cell activation – an immunological “checkpoint” – that may play a role in helping tumors evade effective immune surveillance.

This chapter will present a brief discussion of the molecular structure and biologic function of LAG-3 as a therapeutic target. The current role of LAG-3 in cancer with attention to pertinent preclinical and clinical data will be described. Finally, the potential impact and future directions of research into the optimal use of LAG-3 as a therapeutic target will be presented.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA

    Joel C. Sunshine

  2. Department of Oncology, Melanoma and Cancer Immunology Programs, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, Room 507, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA

    Evan J. Lipson

Authors
  1. Joel C. Sunshine
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  2. Evan J. Lipson
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Correspondence to Evan J. Lipson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology & Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    John L. Marshall

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Sunshine, J.C., Lipson, E.J. (2017). Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 (LAG-3). In: Marshall, J. (eds) Cancer Therapeutic Targets. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0717-2_136

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