EXPRESSION AND IMMUNOGENICITY OF ONCOFETAL ANTIGEN-IMMATURE LAMININ RECEPTOR IN HUMAN RENAL CELL CARCINOMA

Purpose: The 32 to 44 kDa. oncofetal antigen-immature laminin receptor (OFA-iLR) is a multifunctional protein expressed by various tumors, including breast, lung, ovary and prostate carcinoma as well as lymphoma. OFA-iLR has been implicated in tumor invasiveness, metastasis and growth. Interferon-γ producing effector T cells and interleukin (IL)-10 producing suppressor T cells specific for OFA-iLR have been described.Materials and Methods: The 43515 IgG2a anti-OFA-iLR monoclonal antibody was used to detect OFA-iLR expression in human renal cell carcinoma tissue by flow cytometry and immunoblotting. Spontaneous or therapy induced immune responses against OFA-iLR were determined in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Proliferative and cytokine (interferon-γ and IL-10) responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with renal cell carcinoma against recombinant OFA-iLR were assessed.Results: Using flow cytometry OFA-iLR was detected in all 13 tumors tested. Immunoblotting revealed di...