• BMB Reports
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.400-406
• /
• 2010

Cancer/testis (CT) antigens exhibit highly tissue-restricted expression and are considered promising targets for cancer vaccines. Here we identified a novel CT gene ZNF645 which restrictively expresses in normal human testes and lung cancer patients (68.3%). To investigate the promoter methylation status of ZNF645, we carried out bisulfite genomic sequencing and found that the CpG island in its promoter was heavily methylated in normal lung tissues without the expression of ZNF645, whereas there was high demethylation in normal human testes and lung carcinoma tissues with its expression. Also ZNF645 could be remarkably activated in A549 and HEK293T cells treated by DNA demethylation agent 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. And the dual luciferase assay revealed that the promoter activity of the ZNF645 was inhibited by methylation of the CpG island region. Therefore, we proposed that ZNF645 is a CT gene and activated in human testis and lung cancers by demethylation of its promoter region.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.265-274
• /
• 2002

Background : Tumor associated antigens, which are produced specifically by tumor cells, are promising targets for the early diagnosis and immunotherapy. Among the tumor associated antigens, MAGE (a melanoma antigen), BAGE, GAGE, PRAME and NY-ESO were named as cancer/testis specific antigens they are detected exclusively in the testis or cancer cells If MAGE is easily detectable in the sputum, it would become a convenient method for diagnosing lung cancer. This study was undertaken to investigate MAGE expression in the induced sputum obtained from lung cancer patients. Materials and Methods : In 14 control patients and 30 lung cancer patients, the induced sputum was collected after inhaling 3% saline(5 cc) delivered by nebulizer for approximately 5 minutes after a mouth rinse and bronchodilator inhalation. The induced sputum was placed in a conservative-mixed solution (guanidinium isothiocyanate, Triton X-100). The total cellular mRNA was extracted from the cells and RT PCR and nested PCR were run in 30 and 35 cycles respectively, with two different types of primers specially designed to detect six subtypes of MAGE DNA simultaneously. Results : MAGE expression was not detected in the 14 controls, but in the 30 cancer patients, MAGE was found in 24 patients (80%, p=0.001). In the cancer patients, there were no differences in the expression level according to the tissue types (squamous cell cancer 13/17, adenocarcinoma 7/9, and small cell cancer 4/4, p-0.56). Among the 24 MAGE-positive patients, the tumor was not visible on a bronchoscopy in 11 patients (45.8%). Conclusion : A study of MAGE in induced sputum appears to be a useful and complementary method in the diagnosis of lung cancer. A further prospective study with more patients is recommended.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.46 no.10
• /
• pp.579-588
• /
• 2023

Sarcomas are rare and heterogeneous mesenchymal neoplasms originating from the bone or soft tissues, which pose significant treatment challenges. The current standard treatment for sarcomas consists of surgical resection, often combined with chemo- and radiotherapy; however, local recurrence and metastasis remain significant concerns. Although immunotherapy has demonstrated promise in improving long-term survival rates for certain cancers, sarcomas are generally considered to be relatively less immunogenic than other tumors, presenting substantial challenges for effective immunotherapy. In this review, we examine the possible opportunities for sarcoma immunotherapy, noting cancer testis antigens expressed in sarcomas. We then cover the current status of immunotherapies in sarcomas, including progress in cancer vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and adoptive cellular therapy and their potential in combating these tumors. Furthermore, we discuss the limitations of immunotherapies in sarcomas, including a low tumor mutation burden and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and explore potential strategies to tackle the immunosuppressive barriers in therapeutic interventions, shedding light on the development of effective and personalized treatments for sarcomas. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and potential of immunotherapies in sarcoma treatment, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for developing effective therapies to improve the outcomes of patients with these rare malignancies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.12
• /
• pp.7635-7638
• /
• 2013

Background: Sperm-associated antigen 9 (SPAG9) has been recently proposed as a novel biomarker for early diagnosis of several human tumors, including ovarian, cervical and breast cancers. Its clinical value remains to be clarified for endometrial cancer (EC). In this study, we investigated the utility of serum SPAG9 levels in diagnosis of EC and its association with important clinicopathological parameters. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at a tertiary women's referral center in Ankara, Turkey. Preoperative serum samples were collected from patients surgically treated for endometrial cancer between June 2012-April 2013. Similar aged women with a biopsy proven benign endometrium were used as controls. Serum SPAG9 levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and assessed for links with clinicopathological factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess power of SPAG9 levels for EC prediction. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 63 women with EC and 27 with benign endometrium were included in the study. Mean age in the EC group was $58.7{\pm}1.1$. Median SPAG9 levels in the EC and control groups were 18.3 (range, 12.7-53.8) and 14.1 (range, 4.3-65.3), respectively (p<0.001). A cut-off value of 17 ng/ml for SPAG9 predicted presence of malignant endometrium with 74% sensitivity and 83% specificity [Area under curve (AUC)=0.82, p<0.001]. SPAG9 levels did not demonstrate any significant association with histological type, FIGO stage, tumor grade, size, myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion, cervical involvement, adnexal involvement, peritoneal cytology or lymph node status (all p>0.05). Conclusions: Testing for SPAG9 may be useful for early detection of EC in asymptomatic high-risk women. Its role in post-treatment follow-up and early detection of recurrence should be assessed in future trials.