title: TSPY is a cancer testis antigen expressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: In search for genes associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by cDNA microarray, we found that the transcription of TSPY, 'testis-specific protein Y-encoded', was upregulated in HCC. Investigation of a broad spectrum of normal and malignant tissues by RT-PCR revealed the TSPY transcript selectively expressed in normal testis, different histological types of human neoplastic tissues, and tumour cell lines. The expression of TSPY in cancer cells was further confirmed by in situ hybridisation. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy analysis showed that TSPY was localised mainly in the cytoplasm of transiently transfected cells. Testis-specific protein Y-encoded was detected in 50% (16 of 32) of well- and moderately differentiated HCC patients, in 16% (four of 25) of poorly differentiated HCC patients, and in 5% (one of 19) of renal cell cancer patients. A serological survey revealed that 6.6% (seven of 106) HCC patients had anti-TSPY antibody response, demonstrating the immunogenicity of TSPY in humans. In conclusion, these data suggest that TSPY is a novel cancer/testis (CT) antigen and may be a potential candidate in vaccine strategy for immunotherapy in HCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Y-H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Y-Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: H-C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X-A
authors.initials: XA
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: H-G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: X-W
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: W-F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; C497749:TSPY1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors