Identification and Characterization of Tumor Antigens Associated with Breast Cancer

摘要

Recently, advances in tumor immunology and identification of tumor- associated antigens (TAAs) have led to an increased interest in vaccination strategies to treat cancer and/or prevent cancer relapse. Immunotherapy can be used as an adjuvant with other systemic therapy to target micro-metastatic disease and prevent cancer recurrence. Although preclinical/clinical trials using cloned tumor-associated antigens for tumor vaccination are ongoing in melanoma and other cancers, breast cancer immunotherapy is limited due in part to the limited number of breast tumor-associated antigens identified to date. Using serological identification of antigens by recombinant expression cloning (SEREX), we first identified novel tumor antigens in a mouse model of adenocarcinoma. These studies were extended to human breast cancer, and candidate human breast tumor antigens were identified using patient sera. The antigens were characterized at the molecular level with regard to sequence, expression pattern and immunoreactivity with a panel of cancer patient sera. These antigens may serve as potential targets for breast cancer immunotherapy, and may provide insight into breast tumor biology.