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Human cortactin as putative cancer antigen.
M A Lagarkova1, V E Boitchenko, A A Mescheryakov
1Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119899, Russia.
Oncogene
|November 7, 2000
Summary
Scientists detected an antibody response to human cortactin in 15% of breast cancer patients. This finding relates to the oncogene
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Humoral immune responses against oncogenic proteins are known in various cancers.
- Cortactin is a putative oncogene located on chromosome 11q13.
- Amplification of 11q13 occurs in 15% of breast and 30% of head and neck cancers, correlating with poor prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the autologous antibody response to human cortactin in breast cancer patients.
- To examine the association between cortactin amplification/overexpression and the immune response.
Main Methods:
- Serological analysis of breast carcinoma expression library (SEREX) was employed.
- Cortactin transcript levels were analyzed in autologous tumors.
Main Results:
- An autologous antibody response to human cortactin was detected in 15% of breast cancer patients.
- Overexpression of cortactin transcript was observed in autologous tumors of serologically positive patients.
- Cortactin amplification and overexpression were confirmed in tumors from these patients.
Conclusions:
- A subset of breast cancer patients mounts a humoral immune response against the oncogene human cortactin.
- Cortactin amplification and overexpression are linked to this immune response.
- This suggests cortactin as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.