Farzaneh Rahmani Rad, Maryambeigom Mobasheri, Mohammad Hossein Modarressi ,
Volume 73, Issue 4 (7-2015)
Abstract
Cancer/Testis antigens (CTAs) as a group of tumor antigens are the novel subjects for developing cancer vaccine and immunotherapy approaches. They aberrantly express in tumors with highest normal expression in testis, and limited or no expression in normal tissues. There are important similarities between the processes of germ-cell and cancer cell development Spermatogenesis begins at puberty when expression of novel cell-surface antigens occurs when the immune system has been refined the ability to distinguish self from non-self. Whereas macrophage and lymphocytes are commonly found within interstitial spaces of the testis, these antigen-presenting cells are rarely seen within the seminiferous tubules. These observations have led to the concept of the immune privileged site for testis. Localized normal expression of the CT genes in testis that makes them immunogenic for immune system, in one side, and their abnormal expression in different kinds of cancer cells, in the other side, has make them as promising target for developing cancer vaccines and new cancer therapeutics approaches. In malignancies, gene regulation is disrupted which results aberrant expression of CT antigen in a proportion of tumors of various types. For some CTAs, data support their fundamental role in tumorigenesis. Several authors believe it is not clear whether they have an essential role in tumorigenesis or they are by-products of chromatin variations in cancer. There is a growing list of CTAs within them advanced clinical trials are running by using some of them in cancers like lung cancer, malignant melanoma and neuroblastoma. In this review we discuss the gene TSGA10 as an example of CT genes. TSGA10 expresses in its highest levels in elongating spermatids and localized in the fibrous sheath of mature sperm. This gene is proposed as a serological biomarker in cutaneous lymphoma. Its abnormal expression has been reported in different cancers such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, breast, brain, gastrointestinal and a range of other cancers either in mRNA or protein levels. It has an important role in angiogenesis in cancer tumors because of its effects in the gene hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF1). Absence or lack of TSGA10 expression has been reported in ascosporic infertile men.
Mohammadreza Noori-Daloii , Bahareh Kashani ,
Volume 76, Issue 4 (7-2018)
Abstract
Cancer is one of the most dangerous health problems of today modern societies which has an increasing rate especially in developing countries. There are many diverse ongoing treatment attempts trying to defeat cancer. Despite that, scientists have been unable to find a permanent cure for this disease. In many cases although there is a successful first response in patients, cancer cells are finally able to withstand therapeutic procedures and even use chemo-resistance to take advantage of treatments to facilitate tumor growth, resulting in cancer remission. Therefore, and mostly in recent two decades, scientists have been trying to choose their treatments just as smart to be able to conquer cancer. One of the best methods of this smart defense is to target weak points of neoplastic cells and use them for designing drugs. In this case it would be most probable for cancer cells not to have a chance to confront and cause chemo-resistance. Total endeavors to fulfill this goal are named “targeted cancer therapy”. This therapeutic approach is mostly consisted of two different procedures: 1- designing and using specific drugs to target cancer cells’ mutated genes; which will be defined by checking the genetic background of tumor cells for each specific cancer type. EGFR, RAS, VEGF and HIF-1α are among the pathways that have already been used as targets. 2- The other procedure could be methods that would carry drugs directly to unhealthy cells to prevent further side effects for normal cells of patients. It would be possible by designing specific antibodies to target antigens of neoplastic cells. Ribonucleic sequences (miRNAs and siRNAs) are also very promising as new drugs and nanoparticles have enabled us to increase drug concentration in tumors. The ultimate goal of these new experiments is to suggest specific drugs for each patient based on the nature of one's disease and genetic background, which will bring about "personalized medicine" era. Using valid new references, this review article first presents targets that are currently being used for this targeted therapy, their logic of choice and the drugs that have already been produced for clinical trials. Smart methods of drug delivery are also presented and discussed afterwards.
