[6] The aberrant re-expression of CTAs is induced by molecular mechanisms including DNA demethylation, histone post-translational modification, and microRNA-mediated regulation.
The gene encodes a 180-amino acid polypeptide, expressed from 18 weeks during embryonic development until birth in human fetal testis.
Studies have suggested its role in cell cycle progression and growth, although not being elusive, through the analysis of CTAG1B's structure and expression pattern.
The coexpression of CTAG1B with melanoma antigen gene C1 (MAGE-C1), another CTA, further supports its involvement in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis, due to the role of MAGE proteins in these processes.
[9] It is also believed that cancer-testis antigens are immunogenic proteins, since many members of the family have been shown to induce spontaneous cellular and humoral immune responses in patients with advanced stage tumours.