Identification of the cancer/testis antigens AKAP3 and CTp11 by SEREX in hepatocellular carcinoma

Oncol Rep. 2012 Nov;28(5):1792-8. doi: 10.3892/or.2012.2002. Epub 2012 Aug 30.

Abstract

Cancer/testis (CT) antigens are considered promising target molecules for immunotherapy. To efficiently identify potential CT antigens, a testis cDNA library was immunoscreened with sera from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. We isolated 3 different antigens, AKAP3, CTp11, and UBQLN3. Although AKAP3 and CTp11 have been previously reported as CT antigens, this is the first time that these 2 antigens have been isolated from HCC patients by SEREX. Conventional RT-PCR analysis showed that AKAP3 was frequently present in HCC cell lines (5/7) and HCC tissues (5/10), and the gene was broadly expressed in several cancer types, including breast cancer cell lines (3/6), breast cancer tissues (6/9), colon cancer cell lines (3/10), colon cancer tissues (5/6), ovary cancer cell lines (6/8), ovary cancer tissues (11/16), lung cancer cell lines (4/7) and lung cancer tissues (6/13). By phage plaque analysis, anti-AKAP3 antibody was detected in sera from 15 of 27 HCC patients and 8 of 27 healthy donors. These data suggest that AKAP3 may be useful for diagnosis and immunotherapy in HCC patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / blood
  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / genetics
  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / immunology*
  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Aged
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / blood*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / therapy
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / blood
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Liver Neoplasms / immunology
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Proteins / blood
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / immunology*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Ubiquitins / blood
  • Ubiquitins / genetics
  • Ubiquitins / immunology*
  • Ubiquitins / isolation & purification

Substances

  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins
  • AKAP3 protein, human
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • SPANXC protein, human
  • UBQLN3 protein, human
  • Ubiquitins