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A potential target for development of tumor-specific immunotherapeutic strategies is the MAGE-1 gene. We have utilized a recently developed recombinant canarypox (ALVAC) virus vector containing the MAGE-1 gene (vCP235) to activate CTLs from a breast cancer patient bearing a MAGE-1+ tumor. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) obtained from the tumor of a patient were stimulated in vitro with irradiated autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells acutely infected with the vCP235 construct. These TILs preferentially expanded approximately 6-fold over a 16-day culture period and specifically recognized an allogeneic transformed B-cell line acutely infected with a vaccinia-MAGE-1 recombinant targeting vector (vP1188) in the context of HLA-A2 and/or B7. TCR V beta analysis of in vitro expanded T cells by a quantitative multiprobe RNase protection assay revealed preferential expansion of TCR V beta 6.3 and V beta 6.4. In addition, homologous T-cell receptor beta CDR3 joining sequences were found in the in vitro stimulated cultures. These results suggest that tumor antigen-specific, MHC-restricted CTLs may be derived from precursor CTLs present in TILs obtained from patients with MAGE-1+ tumors by in vitro stimulation with recombinant avipox MAGE-1 virus-infected autologous cells. Collectively, these findings provide a rationale for tumor-associated antigen-based immunization as a means of activating precursor CTLs residing in patients with tumors expressing defined tumor-associated antigens such as MAGE-1.

We have attempted to identify the antigen on L5178Y cells that is the target for peritoneal cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) generated in L5178Y-O (original) immunized and challenged DBA/2 mice during establishment of the L5178Y cell tumor dormant state. These CTL exhibited in vitro lytic activity against methylcholanthrene-induced L5178Y and P815Y cells as well as Gross virus-induced BALB/c cells but not against a variety of other H-2d-tumor cell lines. The pattern of susceptibility to cell-mediated immune cytolysis was identical to the pattern of AB-dependent complement-mediated cytolysis produced by a rabbit anti-L5178Y antiserum. Quantitative expression of surface H-2d determinants was not a limiting factor in tumor cell lysis by CTL. The degree of CTL lysis of the susceptible cell lines was directly related to the amount of tumor-associated antigen expressed on the cell surface. The pattern of in vitro susceptibility to CTL lysis correlated well with in vivo transplantation resistance. The L5178Y cell antigen target for both CTL and Ra-anti-L5178Y serum lysis is likely to be either an endogenous AKR ecotropic viral glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 71,000 or one of two cell surface determinants, at Mr 85,000 and 135,000. These higher-molecular-weight antigens are neither endogenous AKR ecotropic viral-induced nor murine leukemia virus group-specific precursor structural proteins but may be transformation antigens shared by the susceptible tumor cell lines.