title: Analysis of antigens recognized on human melanoma cells by A2-restricted cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL).
abstract: We have pursued our analysis of potential tumor-rejection antigens recognized on human melanoma by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL). We reported previously that 3 distinct antigens (A,B,C) were recognized on melanoma cell line SK29-MEL in association with HLA-A2. Selection for melanoma-cell variants resistant to anti-A CTL revealed that antigen A consists of at least 2 determinants (Aa, Ab) which can be lost separately. Genetic linkage between Aa and Ab was suggested by concomitant loss of Aa and Ab in an immunoselected tumor-cell variant. This variant was also resistant to an autologous CTL clone restricted by HLA-B45, indicating that this CTL may also recognize a determinant of antigen A. Of 11 allogeneic HLA-A2 melanoma cell lines that were tested, 5 expressed both Aa and Ab, 1 expressed only Aa, and 1 only Ab. None of them was lysed by anti-B or anti-C CTL clones. A CTL clone derived from another HLA-A2-melanoma patient was found to have exactly the same lytic pattern as the anti-Ab CTL of the first patient. This suggested that it may be possible to elicit an anti-Ab response in many HLA-A2 patients. We conclude that there are at least 2 distinct antigens presented in association with HLA-A2 that are common to many melanomas and therefore constitute promising targets for specific immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: I. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wölfel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hauer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klehmann
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brichard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knuth
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boon
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Meyer Zum Büschenfelde
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D000939:Epitopes; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000939:Epitopes; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D015235:HLA-B Antigens