Cancer mucosa antigens as a novel immunotherapeutic class of tumor-associated antigen

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Dec;82(6):734-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.clpt.6100369. Epub 2007 Sep 26.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Surgery and chemoradiation exhibit incomplete efficacy and, ultimately, 50% of patients die of metastatic disease. In the context of that unmet clinical need, immunotherapeutic approaches have enjoyed limited success, partly because of a paucity of suitable antigen targets. However, exploitation of immune compartmentalization, employing antigens with expression restricted to normal intestinal mucosa and derivative colorectal tumors--cancer mucosa antigens (CMAs)--may represent a previously unrecognized class of immune targets supporting efficacious antitumor immunotherapy. Guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) is an intestine/colorectal cancer-restricted protein ideally suited as the first CMA for clinical evaluation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology
  • Guanylate Cyclase / immunology*
  • Guanylate Cyclase / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Receptors, Enterotoxin
  • Receptors, Guanylate Cyclase-Coupled
  • Receptors, Peptide / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptors, Peptide
  • Guanylate Cyclase
  • Receptors, Enterotoxin
  • Receptors, Guanylate Cyclase-Coupled