Breast cancer is a promising target for vaccination using cancer-testis antigens known to elicit immune responses.
BACKGROUND
Cancer-testis antigens (CTAGs) are expressed solely in germ cells and in malignant tissues. They are targets of immune responses mediated by cytotoxic T cells in some cancers, and there is much interest in developing vaccines that induce these responses. The purpose of the present study was to ascertain the frequency of expression of CTAGs in breast cancer.


METHODS
Breast tumours were collected sequentially in the Southampton Tumour Bank from donors who had given written informed consent. Stored samples where there was sufficient material were sampled in sequence. An initial series of 42 tumours was screened for expression of 17 different CTAGs. A second panel of 40 tumours was screened for the expression of those antigens present in the first panel.


RESULTS
Ninety-three per cent of tumours in the first series expressed at least one CTAG, and 62% expressed the single antigen CTAG1. Eighty per cent of tumours in the second series expressed at least one CTAG, 50% expressing CTAG1. Tumours exhibiting higher risk features tended to express more CTAGs.


CONCLUSIONS
More than two-thirds of breast cancers would be covered by a vaccine directed against just three CTAGs - CTAG1, BAGE1, and MAGEA10 - all of which are known to be targets of cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte responses.
Taylor
Mark
M
Cancer Research - UK Clinical Centre, University of Southampton, MP824, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
Bolton
Louise M
LM
Johnson
Peter
P
Elliott
Tim
T
Murray
Nick
N
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D013737:Testis / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C104948:CTAG1B protein, human; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D008565:Membrane Proteins