title: Cancer-testis antigen expression is shared between epithelial ovarian cancer tumors.
abstract: Cancer-testis (CT) antigens have been proposed as potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. Our objective was to evaluate the expression of a panel of CT antigens in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tumor specimens, and to determine if antigen sharing occurs between tumors.
  
  
  
  RNA was isolated from EOC tumor specimens, EOC cell lines and benign ovarian tissue specimens. Real time-PCR analysis was performed to determine the expression level of 20 CT antigens.
  
  
  
  A total of 62 EOC specimens, 8 ovarian cancer cell lines and 3 benign ovarian tissues were evaluated for CT antigen expression. The majority of the specimens were: high grade (62%), serous (68%) and advanced stage (74%). 58 (95%) of the EOC tumors analyzed expressed at least one of the CT antigens evaluated. The mean number of CT antigen expressed was 4.5 (0-17). The most frequently expressed CT antigen was MAGE A4 (65%). Antigen sharing analysis showed the following: 9 tumors shared only one antigen with 62% of the evaluated specimens, while 37 tumors shared 4 or more antigens with 82%. 5 tumors expressed over 10 CT antigens, which were shared with 90% of the tumor panel.
  
  
  
  CT antigens are expressed in 95% of EOC tumor specimens. However, not a single antigen was universally expressed across all samples. The degree of antigen sharing between tumors increased with the total number of antigens expressed. These data suggest a multi-epitope approach for development of immunotherapy for ovarian cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States. Electronic address: Arlene.garciamd@northtxgynonc.com.
authors.forename: Arlene E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Garcia-Soto
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States.
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States. Electronic address: NStrbo@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Strbo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States. Electronic address: Pganjei@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ganjei-Azar
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States. Electronic address: Fmiao@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States. Electronic address: tsengul@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Tulay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koru-Sengul
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States. Electronic address: Fiona.Simpkins@uphs.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simpkins
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States.
authors.forename: Wilberto
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nieves-Neira
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States. Electronic address: joseph.a.lucci@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States.
authors.forename: Eckhard R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Podack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm
keywords: Antigen sharing; Cancer-testis antigens; Epithelial ovarian cancer