Spontaneous CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell responses directed against cancer testis antigens are present in the peripheral blood of testicular cancer patients.

ABSTRACT: Cancer/testis antigen (CTAg) expression is restricted to spermatogenic cells in an immune-privileged site within the testis. However, these proteins are expressed aberrantly by malignant cells and T-cell responses against CTAgs develop in many cancer patients. We investigated the prevalence, magnitude and phenotype of CTAg-specific T cells in the blood of patients with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T-cell responses against MAGE-A family antigens were present in 44% (20/45) of patients' samples assayed by ex vivo IFN-γ ELISPOT. The presence of MAGE-specific CD8⁺ T cells was further determined following short-term in vitro expansion through the use of pMHC-I multimers containing known immunogenic peptides. Longitudinal analysis revealed t

SUBMITTER: Pearce H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5519936 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature