• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.993-1001
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• 2007

The technique of serological analysis of antigens by recombinant cDNA expression library (SEREX) uses autologous patient sera as a screening probe to isolate tumor-associated antigens for various tumor types. Isolation of tumor-associated antigens that are specifically reactive with patient sera, but not with normal sera, is important to avoid false-positive and autoimmunogenic antigens for the cancer immunotherapy. Here, we describe a selection methodology to isolate patient sera-specific antigens from a yeast surface-expressed cDNA library constructed from 15 patient lung tissues with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several rounds of positive selection using patient sera alone as a screening probe isolated clones exhibiting comparable reactivity with both patient and normal sera. However, the combination of negative selection with allogeneic normal sera to remove antigens reactive with normal sera and subsequent positive selection with patient sera efficiently enriched patient sera-specific antigens. Using the selection methodology described here, we isolated 3 known and 5 unknown proteins, which have not been isolated previously, but and potentially associated with NSCLC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.3079-3081
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• 2015

Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are a group of tumor associated antigens with a restricted expression pattern in normal gametogenic tissues but expression in a broad range of malignancies. Their expression pattern has made them potential targets for immunotherapy. However, expression of some of these antigens has been demonstrated in normal stem cells as well as cancer stem cells (CSCs). As CSCs have been shown to be sources of metastasis and tumor recurrence, novel therapies are being focused on their eradication. On the other hand, CTA expression in normal stem cells raises the possibility that CTA based immunotherapies cause side effects in normal tissues.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.879-890
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• 2007

The identification of tumor antigens is essential for the development of anticancer therapeutic vaccines and clinical diagnosis of cancer. SEREX (serological analysis of recombinant cDNA expression libraries) has been used to identify such tumor antigens by screening sera of patients with cDNA expression libraries. SEREX-defined antigens provide markers for the diagnosis of cancers. Potential diagnostic values of these SEREX-defined antigens have been evaluated. SEREX is also a powerful method for the development of anticancer therapeutics. The development of anticancer vaccines requires that tumor antigens can elicit antigen-specific antibodies or T lymphocytes. More than 2,000 antigens have been discovered by SEFEX. Peptides derived from some of these antigens have been evaluated in clinical trials. This review provides information on the application of SEREX for identification of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) for the development of cancer diagnostics and anticancer therapeutics.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5149-5152
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• 2015

Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are a group of tumor-associated antigens with more than 140 members whose expression has been shown to be limited to gametogenic tissues and placenta among normal tissues. However, malignant tissues of different origins have shown aberrant and elevated expression of these antigens. Such a pattern of expression endows beneficial properties for use as cancer biomarkers as well as immunotherapeutic targets as a result of the immune-privileged status of the testes. CTAs have been shown to be expressed in pediatric brain tumors, different types of sarcomas, leukemias, and lymphomas as well as neuroblastomas. Although data regarding their expression pattern in childhood tumors are not as comprehensive as for adult tumors, it is supposed that CTA-based immunotherapeutic approaches can also be used for pediatric cancers. However, there are limited data about the objective clinical responses following immunotherapy in such patients. Here we try to review the available information.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.6 s.86
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• pp.841-846
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• 2007

The identification of tumor antigens is essential for the development of anticancer therapeutic vaccines and clinical diagnosis of cancer. SEREX (serological analysis of recombinant cDNA expression library)has been used to identify such tumor antigens by screening sera of cancer patients with cDNA ex-pression libraries. SEREX-defined antigens provide markers for the diagnosis of cancers. SEREX is also a powerful method for the development of anticancer therapeutics. The development of anticancer vaccines requires that tumor antigens can elicit antigen-specific antibodies or T lymphocytes. This re-view provides information on the application of SEREX for discovery of tumor antigens.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4623-4628
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• 2015

Breast cancer still remains as the most frequent cancer with second mortality rate in women worldwide. There are no validated biomarkers for detection of the disease in early stages with effective power in diagnosis and therapeutic approaches. Cancer/testis antigens are recently promising tumor antigens and suitable candidates for targeted therapies and generating cancer vaccines. We conducted the present study to analyze transcript changes of two cancer/testis antigens, OIP5 and TAF7L, in breast tumors and cell lines in comparison with normal breast tissues by quantitative real time RT-PCR for the first time. Significant over-expression of OIP5 was observed in breast tumors and three out of six cell lines including MDA-MB-468, T47D and SKBR3. Not significant expression of TAF7L was evident in breast tumors but significant increase was noted in three out of six cell lines including MDA-MB-231, BT474 and T47D. OIP5 has ssignificant role in chromatin organization and cell cycle control during cell cycle exit and normal chromosome segregation during mitosis and TAF7L is a component of the transcription factor IID, which is involved in transcription initiation of most protein coding genes. TAF7Lis located at X chromosome and belongs to the CT-X gene family of cancer/testis antigens which contains about 50% of CT antigens, including those which have been used in cancer immunotherapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.912-922
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• 2011

Cancer-testis (CT) antigens are immunogenic protein antigens with restricted expression in the testes and a wide range of human tumor types, eliciting both humoral and cellular immune responses in cancer patients. They are considered to be ideal targets for vaccine-based immunotherapy, and more than 100 CT antigens, including MAGE, NY-ESO-1, GAGE, BAGE, LAGE, SSX2 and NY-SAR-35 have been identified to date. The CT antigens were identified through various techniques and can be divided in those that are encoded on the X chromosome, the CT-X genes, and those that are not, the non-X-CT genes. CT genes are aberrantly activated and expressed in a proportion of various types of human cancers. The biological role of CT-X in both germ line tissues and tumors remains poorly understood. Cancer vaccine trials based on several CT antigens are currently ongoing. This paper reviews recent advances in and future trends of CT antigens for cancer immunotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4041-4047
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• 2013

Cancer vaccine development is in the process of becoming reality in future, due to successful phase II/III clinical trials. However, there are still problems due to the specificity of tumor antigens and weakness of tumor associated antigens in eliciting an effective immune response. Computational models to assess the vaccine efficacy have helped to improve and understand what is necessary for personalized treatment. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of activation of antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, decreased TREG number functionality and antigen cascade, so that overall improvement in vaccine efficacy and disease free survival can be attained. T cell epitomic based in sillico approaches might be very effective for the design and development of novel cancer vaccines.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7703-7705
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• 2014

Cancer-testis (CT) antigens are a group of tumor-associated antigens with restricted expression in normal tissues except for testis and expression in a wide variety of tumor tissues. This pattern of expression makes them suitable targets for immunotherapy as well as potential biomarkers for early detection of cancer. However, some genes attributed to this family are now known to be expressed in other normal tissues which put their potential applications in immunotherapy and cancer detection under question. Here we analyzed expression of two previously known CT antigens, RHOXF2 and PIWIL2, in AML patients versus normal donors and found no significant difference in the expression of these genes between the two groups. As these two genes showed expression in normal leukocytes, their expression pattern seems to be wider than to be attributed to the CT gene family. Future research should focus on the expression profiles of so called CT antigens to find those with more testis specific expression.

• Biomaterials Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.211-220
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• 2018

Background: Recently, cancer immunotherapy has become standard for cancer treatment. Immunotherapy not only treats primary tumors, but also prevents metastasis and recurrence, representing a major advantage over conventional cancer treatments. However, existing cancer immunotherapies have limited clinical benefits because cancer antigens are often not effectively delivered to immune cells. Furthermore, unlike lymphoma, solid tumors evade anti-cancer immunity by forming an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). One approach for overcoming these limitations of cancer immunotherapy involves nanoparticles based on biomaterials. Main body: Here, we review in detail recent trends in the use of nanoparticles in cancer immunotherapy. First, to illustrate the unmet needs for nanoparticles in this field, we describe the mechanisms underlying cancer immunotherapy. We then explain the role of nanoparticles in the delivery of cancer antigens and adjuvants. Next, we discuss how nanoparticles can be helpful within the immune-suppressive TME. Finally, we summarize current and future uses of nanoparticles with image-guided interventional techniques in cancer immunotherapy. Conclusion: Recently developed approaches for using nanoparticles in cancer immunotherapy have enormous potential for improving cancer treatment. Cancer immunotherapy based on nanoparticles is anticipated not only to overcome the limitations of existing immunotherapy, but also to generate synergistic effects via cooperation between nanoparticles and immune cells.