Abstract :
[en] Several tumor antigens are recognized by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL)
on human melanoma MZ2-MEL. Some of them are encoded by genes MAGE-1 and MAGE-3,
which are not expressed in normal tissues except in testis. Here, we report the
identification of a new gene that codes for another of these antigens. This gene,
named BAGE, codes for a putative protein of 43 aa and seems to belong to a family
of several genes. The antigen recognized by the autologous CTL consists of
BAGE-encoded peptide AARAVFLAL bound to an HLA-Cw 1601 molecule. Gene BAGE is
expressed in 22% of melanomas, 30% of infiltrating bladder carcinomas, 10% of
mammary carcinomas, 8% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, and 6% of
non-small cell lung carcinomas. Like the MAGE genes, it is silent in normal
tissues with the exception of testis. Because of its tumor-specific expression,
the BAGE-encoded antigen may prove useful for cancer immunotherapy.
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