TIM-3
An immune checkpoint on exhausted T cells and on leukaemic stem cells; antibodies against it failed in lung cancer and MDS after strong preclinical promise.
TIM-3 (HAVCR2) is co-expressed with PD-1 on the most exhausted T cells and on leukaemic stem cells (not normal HSCs), and its ligands include galectin-9, CEACAM1, HMGB1 and phosphatidylserine. Sabatolimab plus azacitidine failed in higher-risk MDS (STIMULUS-MDS2, 2023); cobolimab plus dostarlimab in NSCLC (COSTAR Lung) missed its primary endpoint (2024); other anti-TIM-3 antibodies (LY3321367, TSR-022, MBG453) were discontinued or de-prioritised. Remains a rational target in PD-1-refractory disease and for leukaemic stem-cell targeting (CAR-T).
- Target · the protein and the cell it sits on
- Drug · antibody, small molecule, cell or radioligand
- Effect · signal, damage or kill
In plain words · An immune checkpoint on exhausted T cells and on leukaemic stem cells; antibodies against it failed in lung cancer and MDS after strong preclinical promise.
- 1 · What it is
An immune checkpoint on exhausted T cells and on leukaemic stem cells; antibodies against it failed in lung cancer and MDS after strong preclinical promise.
- 2 · What goes wrong in cancer
Type I transmembrane receptor of the TIM family; ligand binding recruits BAT3 release and inhibits TCR signalling; on myeloid cells it regulates innate responses. Marks terminal exhaustion together with PD-1, LAG-3 and TIGIT.
- 3 · How drugs use it
No product in this corpus aims at TIM-3 yet. Checkpoint drugs are antibodies that cover one side of an immune ‘stand down’ handshake so T cells stay active.
Biology
Type I transmembrane receptor of the TIM family; ligand binding recruits BAT3 release and inhibits TCR signalling; on myeloid cells it regulates innate responses. Marks terminal exhaustion together with PD-1, LAG-3 and TIGIT.
- Exhausted CD8 T cells in most solid tumours
- Leukaemic stem cells in AML and MDS
- Tumour-associated macrophages
Latest papers
topQuery for this target: (TITLE:"TIM-3" OR ABSTRACT:"TIM-3" OR TITLE:"HAVCR2" OR ABSTRACT:"HAVCR2") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about TIM-3, not a curated reading list.