title: A33 antigen displays persistent surface expression.
abstract: The A33 antigen is a cell surface glycoprotein of the small intestine and colonic epithelium with homology to tight junction-associated proteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily, including CAR and JAM. Its restricted tissue localization and high level of expression have led to its use as a target in colon cancer immunotherapy. Although the antigen is also present in normal intestine, radiolabeled antibodies against A33 are selectively retained by tumors in the gut as well as in metastatic lesions for as long as 6 weeks. Accordingly, we have studied the trafficking and kinetic properties of the antigen to determine its promise in two-step, pretargeted therapies. The localization, mobility, and persistence of the antigen were investigated, and this work has demonstrated that the antigen is both highly immobile and extremely persistent-retaining its surface localization for a turnover halflife of greater than 2 days. In order to explain these unusual properties, we explored the possibility that A33 is a component of the tight junction. The simple property of surface persistence, described here, may contribute to the prolonged retention of the clinically administered antibodies, and their uncommon ability to penetrate solid tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ackerman
authors.forename: Cecile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chalouni
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Vivek V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Lloyd J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Old
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mellman
authors.forename: K Dane
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wittrup
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C104258:GPA33 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins