CCR8

Class

Afucosylated humanized IgG1 anti-CCR8 monoclonal antibody

Pathway

Depletes CCR8+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the tumor microenvironment via Fc-mediated ADCC

CCR8 is a chemokine receptor found predominantly on a subset of regulatory T cells (Tregs) that accumulate within tumors. Chemokine receptors are cell-surface proteins that guide immune cell migration and activation in response to small signaling proteins called chemokines. Tregs normally restrain immune responses to prevent autoimmunity, but within tumors they suppress the antitumor activity of effector T cells, allowing cancer cells to evade immune attack. Because CCR8 is enriched on tumor-infiltrating Tregs but largely absent from Tregs elsewhere in the body, it offers a way to selectively remove immunosuppressive cells at the tumor site while sparing systemic immune tolerance. Antibodies directed against CCR8 are engineered to eliminate these cells through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), a process in which immune effector cells such as natural killer cells recognize antibody-coated targets and destroy them. Removing tumor-resident Tregs is intended to unleash suppressed effector T cells, enhancing the immune system's capacity to recognize and kill cancer cells. This mechanism is broadly relevant across solid tumors where dense Treg infiltration correlates with poor prognosis, and it is often explored alongside other immune-modulating therapies that activate effector T cell responses, since depleting suppressive cells and stimulating attacking cells can be complementary strategies.