Expression of SSX genes in human tumors.
The HOM-MEL-40 antigen which is encoded by the SSX-2 gene was originally detected as a tumor antigen recognized by autologous IgG antibodies in a melanoma patient. Expression analysis demonstrated that SSX-2 is a member of the recently described cancer/testis antigen (CTA) class as it is expressed in a variety of different human neoplasms, but not in normal tissues with the exception of testis and a weak expression in the thyroid. Further studies demonstrated that SSX-2 belongs to a gene family consisting of at least 5 homologous genes. We now report the analysis of the expression of all 5 SSX genes in 325 specimens of human neoplasms from various histological origins, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). SSX-1, -2, and -4 were found to be expressed in 8%, 15% and 15%, of the tumors, respectively, while the expression of the SSX-5 gene was rare (7/325), and SSX-3 expression was not detected. For defined tumor types, expression of at least one of the SSX family members was most frequently observed in head and neck cancer (75%), followed by ovarian cancer (50%), malignant melanoma (43%), lymphoma (36%), colorectal cancer (27%) and breast cancer (23%), while leukemias and the few cases of leiomyosarcomas, seminomas and thyroid cancers were found not to express any SSX gene.
Türeci
O
O
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Saarland Medical School, Homburg-Saar, Germany. Tuereci@aol.com
Chen
Y T
YT
Sahin
U
U
Güre
A O
AO
Zwick
C
C
Villena
C
C
Tsang
S
S
Seitz
G
G
Old
L J
LJ
Pfreundschuh
M
M
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C093962:synovial sarcoma X breakpoint proteins