Expression of the SART-1 antigens in uterine cancers

Abstract

We recently reported that the SART-1 gene, encoding the SART-1259 tumor antigen which is recognized by HLA-A26-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), is expressed in the cytosol of squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. The present study deals with the expression of SART-1259 and SART-1800 antigens in uterine cancers. The SART-1259 antigen was detected in the cytosol fraction of 4 of 8 uterine cancer cell lines, 24 of 74 (32%) uterine cancer tissues, 0 of 7 uterine myomas, and 0 of 5 non-tumorous uterine tissues. The SART-1800 antigen was expressed in the nuclear fraction of all the uterine cancer cell lines, 41 of 74 (55%) uterine cancer tissues, 0 of 7 myomas, and 3 of 5 non-tumorous uterine tissues. The SART-1259+ uterine cancer cells were recognized by HLA-A24 restricted and SART-1 specific CTLs. Therefore, SART-1259 antigen could be an appropriate vaccine candidate for a relatively large number of uterine cancer patients.