Abstract
Using autologous serum for the serological analysis of recombinantly expressed clones (SEREX) from a cDNA derived from a human melanoma, several new melanoma antigens were identified that are immunogenic in the autologous host. Sequence analysis revealed that one of these antigens, HOM-MEL-40, was coded for by the SSX2 gene, which has recently been described to be involved in the t(X;18) translocation of human synovial sarcomas. Expression analysis performed by Northern blot and RT-PCR demonstrated the presence of HOM-MEL-40 transcripts in a significant proportion of human melanomas (50%), colon cancers (25%), hepatocarcinomas (30%), and breast carcinoma (20%) but not in normal tissues except for testis. Sequence comparison with transcripts cloned from testis ruled out mutations in the melanoma-derived HOM-MEL-40. Antibodies against HOM-MEL-40 were found in 10 of 89 patients with melanoma, including 3 of 8 patients with HOM-MEL-40-positive tumors, but not in 41 apparently healthy controls. In view of the specific expression pattern and immunogenicity in cancer patients, HOM-MEL-40 holds promise as a target for immune interventions in a considerable population of patients with HOM-MEL-40-positive tumors.
Footnotes
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↵1 This work was supported by Grants Pf135/4-1 and Pf135/6-1 from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and 10-0931-Zal from Deutsche Krebshilfe.
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↵2 Ö. T. and U. S. contributed equally to this work.
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↵3 To whom requests for reprints should be addressed. Phone: 49-6841-16-3002; Fax: 49-6841-16-3002.
- Received April 30, 1996.
- Accepted August 13, 1996.
- ©1996 American Association for Cancer Research.
Volume 56, Issue 20
