title: Contemporary definitions of tumor specific antigens, immunogens and markers as related to the adaptive responses of the cancer-bearing host.
abstract: This review describes clear parameters for designating the correct use of the term Tumor Rejection Antigen [TRA] to define the role of tumor cell constituents which activate adaptive anti-tumor immune reactions in the cancer-bearing host. This is important, especially in defining immunogens which activate the patient's cytotoxic T-cells that are important to immunotherapeutic applications in human cancer treatment. The focus of the review is to correctly delineate the immunogenic properties of 37 kDa oncofetal antigen [OFA], one of only a few true TRAs expressed on human and experimental rodent cancers. The purpose of this review is to provide a background for publication reviewers, journal and text editors, and scientists reporting on TRAs to avoid creating further confusion that has proliferated in the cancer literature to imply traits of so-called tumor-associated antigens that do not qualify as TRAs.
authors.affiliation: University of South Alabama, College of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Mobile, AL 36688, USA. jcoggin@jaguarl.usouthal.edu
authors.forename: Joseph H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Coggin
authors.forename: Adel L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Barsoum
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rohrer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thurnher
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C031192:oncofetal antigens