title: Understanding and exploiting 5T4 oncofoetal glycoprotein expression.
abstract: Oncofoetal antigens are present during foetal development with generally limited expression in the adult but are upregulated in cancer. These molecules can sometimes be used to diagnose or follow treatment of tumours or as a target for different immunotherapies. The 5T4 oncofoetal glycoprotein was identified by searching for shared surface molecules of human trophoblast and cancer cells with the rationale that they may function to allow survival of the foetus as a semi-allograft in the mother or a tumour in its host, potentially influencing growth, invasion or altered immune surveillance of the host. 5T4 tumour selective expression has stimulated the development of 5T4 vaccine, 5T4 antibody targeted-superantigen and 5T4 antibody-drug therapies through preclinical and into clinical studies. It is now apparent that 5T4 expression is a marker of the use (or not) of several cellular pathways relevant to tumour growth and spread. Thus 5T4 expression is mechanistically associated with the directional movement of cells through epithelial mesenchymal transition, facilitation of CXCL12/CXCR4 chemotaxis, blocking of canonical Wnt/beta-catenin while favouring non-canonical pathway signalling. These processes are highly regulated in development and in normal adult tissues but can contribute to the spread of cancer cells. Understanding the differential impact of these pathways marked by 5T4 can potentially improve existing, or aid development of novel cancer treatment strategies.
authors: Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, UK. Electronic address: Peter.Stern@manchester.ac.uk.
authors: Peter L
authors: PL
authors: Stern
authors: Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Brazzatti
authors: Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
authors: Saladin
authors: S
authors: Sawan
authors: Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
authors: Owen J
authors: OJ
authors: McGinn
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000502:physiology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; C504058:TroVax; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C031192:oncofetal antigens; C063709:trophoblastic glycoprotein 5T4, human
keywords: 5T4 oncofoetal antigen; 5T4-immunotherapy; CXC12 chemokine; Epithelial mesenchymal transition; Wnt signalling