The long-standing quest for tumor rejection antigens.
Several tumor antigens recognized by T lymphocytes have now been identified at the molecular level. Different mechanisms could account for their expression: activation of normally silent genes, point mutations in normally expressed genes, chromosomal translocations generating combinatorial epitopes, or post-translational modifications of proteins. A major consequence of these results is the notion that potential tumor rejection antigens are often shared by a significant proportion of human tumors. This may have important implications in cancer immunotherapy, especially since tumors expressing a defined antigen can be identified clinically on the basis of the expression of the relevant gene.
van der Bruggen
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Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Brussels, Belgium.
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D009077:Mucins