Prostate stem cell antigen: Identification of immunogenic peptides and assessment of reactive CD8+ T cells in prostate cancer patients

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Andrea Kiessling - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Marc Schmitz - , Institute for Immunology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Stefan Stevanovic - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Bernd Weigle - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Kristina Hölig - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Monika Füssel - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Susanne Füssel - , Department of Urology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Axel Meye - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Manfred P. Wirth - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Ernst Peter Rieber - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

Identification of TAAs recognized by CD8+ CTLs paved the way for new concepts in cancer therapy. In view of the heterogeneity of tumors and their diverse escape mechanisms, CTL-based cancer therapy largely depends on an appropriate number of TAAs. In prostate cancer, the number of antigens defined as suitable targets of CTLs remains rather limited. PSCA is widely distributed in prostate cancer. In this report, we define immunogenic peptides of PSCA which are recognized by circulating CD8+ T cells from prostate cancer patients and able to activate CTLs in vitro. Screening the amino acid sequence of PSCA for peptides containing a binding motif for HLA-A*0201 resulted in 8 candidate peptides. Specificity and affinity of peptide binding were verified in a competition assay. Frequencies of CD8+ T lymphocytes reactive against selected epitopes were determined in the blood of prostate cancer patients using the ELISPOT assay. Increased frequencies were revealed for CD8+ T cells recognizing the peptides ALQPGTALL and AILALLPAL. CTLs from prostate cancer patients were raised against these 2 peptides in vitro when presented by autologous DCs. They specifically recognized peptide-pulsed T2 target cells and prostate cancer cells that were HLA-A*0201- and PSCA-positive, indicating that these peptides were naturally generated by tumor cells. These data suggest that PSCA is a promising target for the immunotherapy of prostate cancer.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)390-397
Number of pages8
JournalInternational journal of cancer
Volume102
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2002
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 12402309

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Dendritic cell, Immunotherapy, Prostate stem cell antigen, T cell, Tumor antigen