The screening of turner-derived expression libraries for antigens that are
detected by high-titer immunoglobulin G antibodies from the sera of patient
s with cancer using serological identification of antigens by recombinant e
xpression cloning (SEREX) allows for the systematic search for antigens of
human cancers. SEREX has led to the identification of a plentitude of new t
umor antigens in many different tumor entities. These antigens, many of whi
ch are encoded by hitherto unknown genes, can be grouped into different cla
sses. Serologically defined human tumor antigens facilitate the identificat
ion of antigenic peptides recognized by tumor-specific T lymphocytes, thus
providing a molecular basis for polyvalent peptide-based and gene therapeut
ic vaccine strategies in a wide variety of human neoplasms, Finally, many o
f the antigens identified using SEREX seem to play a functional role in the
pathogenesis of malignant disease.