The aim of this study was the identification of Wilms’ tumor antigens and their evaluation as possible therapeutic or diagnostic targets.
21 antigen families were serologically detected and assigned to protein classes with different cellular functions. By means of differential serological analyses using samples from healthy volunteers as well as from other pediatric cancer patients two antigens were classified as tumor antigens and 19 as autoantigens. Several autoantigens showed novel molecular alterations. Moreover, some autoantigens had been reported as important factors in tumor development and/or as targets in tumor therapy and diagnosis. Their possible clinical impact in the context of Wilms’ tumors is discussed in this work. The tumor antigens belong to the group of overexpressed and Cancer/Testis-antigens, respectively. The latter are characterized by a restricted expression pattern and recognized as promising targets in cancer immunotherapy.
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