CT-X antigen expression in human breast cancer.
Cancer/testis (CT) genes are predominantly expressed in human germ line cells, but not somatic tissues, and frequently become activated in different cancer types. Several CT antigens have already proved to be useful biomarkers and are promising targets for therapeutic cancer vaccines. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of CT antigens in breast cancer. Using previously generated massively parallel signature sequencing (MPSS) data, together with 9 publicly available gene expression datasets, the expression pattern of CT antigens located on the X chromosome (CT-X) was interrogated. Whereas a minority of unselected breast cancers was found to contain CT-X transcripts, a significantly higher expression frequency was detected in estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER) negative breast cancer cell lines and primary breast carcinomas. A coordinated pattern of CT-X antigen expression was observed, with MAGEA and NY-ESO-1/CTAG1B being the most prevalent antigens. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the correlation of CT-X antigen expression and ER negativity in breast tumors and demonstrated a trend for their coexpression with basal cell markers. Because of the limited therapeutic options for ER-negative breast cancers, vaccines based on CT-X antigens might prove to be useful.
Grigoriadis
Anita
A
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158, USA.
Caballero
Otavia L
OL
Hoek
Keith S
KS
da Silva
Leonard
L
Chen
Yao-Tseng
YT
Shin
Sandra J
SJ
Jungbluth
Achim A
AA
Miller
Lance D
LD
Clouston
David
D
Cebon
Jonathan
J
Old
Lloyd J
LJ
Lakhani
Sunil R
SR
Simpson
Andrew J G
AJ
Neville
A Munro
AM
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C104948:CTAG1B protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone