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Updated: Jul 1, 2026
Microarray-based Identification of Individual HERV Loci Expression: Application to Biomarker Discovery in Prostate Cancer
Published on: November 2, 2013
Preclinical Assessment of HLA-A*02:01-Restricted PSMA and STEAP1 Epitopes for Peptide-Based Immunotherapy in Prostate
Yueting Huang1, Yang Yang2, Yanni Xie1
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Urological Diseases, Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Peptide-based immunotherapy targeting tumor-associated antigens presents a promising approach for prostate cancer intervention. In this study, we employed a preclinical approach to evaluate immunogenic epitope candidates derived from STEAP1 and PSMA, two well-characterized prostate cancer-associated antigens.
Methods:
High-affinity cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes restricted to HLA-A*02:01 were predicted and evaluated for antigenicity, conservation, and proteasomal processing. Molecular docking with HLA-A*02:01 was performed and peptides were synthesized for experimental validation. In-vitro assays including ELISA-based MHC binding, IFN-γ ELISpot, and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) were conducted using splenocytes isolated from HLA-A*02:01 transgenic mice.
Results:
Four peptides (P1, P2, P3 and P4), demonstrated strong binding to HLA-A*02:01 in-silico and were structurally compatible with the MHC class I groove. ELISA confirmed high binding for P3 and P1 at lower concentrations, while P2 and P4 showed moderate affinity. ELISpot assays showed robust IFN-γ responses in peptide-stimulated splenocytes, particularly for P3 and P1. ICS confirmed CD8⁺ T cell activation and polyfunctional cytokine expression. A comparative Nano-immunogenicity profile revealed P3 as the most potent candidate.
Conclusion:
This study provides preclinical evidence of antigenicity and MHC-I compatibility of four prostate cancer-derived CTL epitopes using a transgenic mouse model. These findings support the advancement of these peptides as candidates for peptide-based immunotherapy in prostate cancer.
