Identification of a panel of tumor-associated antigens from breast carcinoma cell lines, solid tumors and testis cDNA libraries displayed on lambda phage.
BACKGROUND
Tumor-associated antigens recognized by humoral effectors of the immune system are a very attractive target for human cancer diagnostics and therapy. Recent advances in molecular techniques have led to molecular definition of immunogenic tumor proteins based on their reactivity with autologous patient sera (SEREX).


METHODS
Several high complexity phage-displayed cDNA libraries from breast carcinomas, human testis and breast carcinoma cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-468 were constructed. The cDNAs were expressed in the libraries as fusion to bacteriophage lambda protein D. Lambda-displayed libraries were efficiently screened with sera from patients with breast cancer.


RESULTS
A panel of 21 clones representing 18 different antigens, including eight proteins of unknown function, was identified. Three of these antigens (T7-1, T11-3 and T11-9) were found to be overexpressed in tumors as compared to normal breast. A serological analysis of the 21 different antigens revealed a strong cancer-related profile for at least five clones (T6-2, T6-7, T7-1, T9-21 and T9-27).


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary results indicate that patient serum reactivity against five of the antigens is associated with tumor disease. The novel T7-1 antigen, which is overexpressed in breast tumors and recognized specifically by breast cancer patient sera, is potentially useful in cancer diagnosis.
Pavoni
Emiliano
E
Kenton Labs, c/o Sigma Tau, Pomezia, Rome, Italy. pavoni@kenton.it
Vaccaro
Paola
P
Pucci
Andrea
A
Monteriù
Giorgia
G
Beghetto
Elisa
E
Barca
Stefano
S
Dupuis
Maria Luisa
ML
De Pasquale Ceratti
Adolfo
A
Lugini
Antonio
A
Cianfriglia
Maurizio
M
Cortesi
Enrico
E
Felici
Franco
F
Minenkova
Olga
O
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D015723:Gene Library; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate