Expression of the SART‐1 Antigens in Uterine Cancers

We recently reported that the SART‐1 gene, encoding the SART‐1(259) tumor antigen which is recognized by HLA‐A26‐restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), is expressed in the cytosol of squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. The present study deals with the expression of SART‐1(259) and SART‐1(800) antigens in uterine cancers. The SART‐1(259) antigen was detected in the cytosol fraction of 4 of 8 uterine cancer cell lines, 24 of 74 (32%) uterine cancer tissues, 0 of 7 uterine myomas, and 0 of 5 non‐tumorous uterine tissues. The SART‐1(800) antigen was expressed in the nuclear fraction of all the uterine cancer cell lines, 41 of 74 (55%) uterine cancer tissues, 0 of 7 myomas, and 3 of 5 non‐tumorous uterine tissues. The SART‐1(259)(+) uterine cancer cells were recognized by HLA‐A24 restricted and SART‐1 specific CTLs. Therefore, SART‐1(259) antigen could be an appropriate vaccine candidate for a relatively large number of uterine cancer patients.