Expressions of cancer-testis antigens in human hepatocellular carcinomas
Journal
Cancer Letters
Journal Volume
164
Journal Issue
2
Pages
189-195
Date Issued
2001
Author(s)
Chen G.-J.
Tsai L.-J.
Abstract
Though regular sonographic examination can early detect small hepatocellular carcinoma, the therapeutic results remains unsatisfactory. Antigen-specific immunotherapy is an alternative approach for controlling tumors. The prerequisite for antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy is the identification of appropriate tumor antigens. Recently, a new category of tumor-specific shared antigens, called cancer-testis antigens, has been identified. The cancer-testis antigens have been found in a variety of cancers. However, the expression of cancer-testis antigens in human hepatocellular carcinomas is unknown. The aim of this current study is to investigate the expression of cancer-testis antigens in human hepatocellular carcinomas. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to investigate the expression of the SSX-1,-2,-4,-5, SCP-1, NY-ESO-1 genes in tumorous and corresponding non-tumorous liver tissues. In the 30 hepatocellular carcinomas studied, SSX-1,-2,-4,-5, SCP-1, and NY-ESO-1 mRNA expressions were detected in 24 (80%), 14 (46.7%), 22 (73.3%), 10 (33.3%), 2 (6.7%), and 11 (36.7%), respectively. Expressions of these genes were detected in few non-tumor liver tissues. The cancer-testis antigens are expressed in a high percentage of hepatocellular carcinomas. These cancer-testis antigen gene products are potential targets for antigen-specific immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. ? 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
SDGs
Other Subjects
cancer testis antigen; cancer testis antigen scp 1; cancer testis antigen ssx 1; cancer testis antigen ssx 2; cancer testis antigen ssx 4; cancer testis antigen ssx 5; gene product; messenger RNA; NY ESO 1 antigen; tumor antigen; unclassified drug; antigen expression; antigen specificity; article; cancer control; cancer immunotherapy; clinical article; controlled study; female; gene sequence; human; human tissue; liver; liver cell carcinoma; male; priority journal; protein expression; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; sequence analysis; Adult; Aged; Antigens, Neoplasm; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Female; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Membrane Proteins; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Protein Biosynthesis; Repressor Proteins; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Testis
Type
journal article