Soluble low-molecular-mass heat shock proteins and tumor-associated antigens in prevention and therapy of chemically-induced cancers
Zusman, I.; Kossoy, G.; Ben-Hur, H.
In Vivo 15(6): 529-534
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0258-851X PMID: 11887340 Document Number: 538477
There is increasing evidence that tumors express putative target molecules in a therapeutic immune reaction. Identification of immunogenic tumor-associated antigens (TAA) may enable the development of new modes of vaccination with the addition of immunotherapy as a potentially powerful weapon in the fight against cancer. In the present review, the authors' observations on the role of the soluble low-molecular-mass heat shock proteins and tumor-associated antigens, named as a complex of STAA, in the prevention and therapy of chemically-induced tumorigenesis are analyzed and compared with data from the literature. It has been shown that STAA have both tumor-preventive and tumor-suppressive effects on chemically-induced cancers of the colon, skin and mammary glands in rats and mice. These effects were shown to be connected with activation of the host's immune system, especially that which is responsible for the activity of T and B lymphocytes. These findings have led to a wave of new trials involving cancer immunotherapy. Understanding the mechanisms of antitumor immunity and identifying relevant tumor-specific antigens is expected to improve vaccine strategies and provide for a successful cancer therapy in the future.