Expression of the tumor-rejection antigen SART1 in brain tumors

We have reported a tumor-rejection antigen, SARTI(259), possessing tumor ep itopes capable of inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in epithelial-can cer patients. This study investigated the expression of SARTI(259), antigen in brain tumors, to explore for a potential molecule for use in specific i mmunotherapy of patients with brain tumors. The SARTI(259) antigen was dete cted in the cytosol fraction of 13 of 18 (72%) glioma cell lines and in 12 of 34 (35%) brain-tumor tissues, with a higher rate of expression among mal ignant: gliomas (5/10, 50%) and schwannomas (3/4). HLA-A24-restricted and S ARTI-specific CTLs recognized the HLA-A24(+) and SARTI(259)(+) glioma cells , and the levels of recognition correlated both with HLA-A24-antigen expres sion level and with the concentration of the SARTI peptide antigen. Therefo re, the SARTI(259) antigen could be a target molecule for specific immunoth erapy of patients with brain tumors expressing HLA-class-I antigens. (C) 19 99 Wiley-Liss, Inc.