Published online Dec 15, 2015. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v7.i12.492
Peer-review started: June 17, 2015
First decision: July 27, 2015
Revised: September 21, 2015
Accepted: October 20, 2015
Article in press: October 27, 2015
Published online: December 15, 2015
Processing time: 182 Days and 0.6 Hours
Colorectal cancer ranks third among the estimated cancer cases and cancer related mortalities in United States in 2014. Early detection and efficient therapy remains a significant clinical challenge for this disease. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel tumor associated molecules to target for biomarker development and immunotherapy. In this regard, cancer testis antigens have emerged as a potential targets for developing novel clinical biomarkers and immunotherapy for various malignancies. These germ cell specific proteins exhibit aberrant expression in cancer cells and contribute in tumorigenesis. Owing to their unique expression profile and immunogenicity in cancer patients, cancer testis antigens are clinically referred as the most promising tumor associated antigens. Several cancer testis antigens have been studied in colorectal cancer but none of them could be used in clinical practice. This review is an attempt to address the promising cancer testis antigens in colorectal cancer and their possible clinical implications as biomarkers and immunotherapeutic targets with particular focus on challenges and future interventions.
Core tip: Despite of the availability of enormous tumor antigens, there is a dearth of targets for biomarkers and immunotherapy for clinical cancer management. Cost-effectiveness and invasiveness associated with colonoscopy hinders its implications in less developed and developing countries. Colorectal cancer treatment including surgery and radiation has significant side effects on normal tissues. Recently a new category of antigens has been discovered which are expressed in tumor cells but not in normal tissues except the immuno-privileged testis. Targeting such antigens would be specific to the cancer cells with no deleterious effects on normal cells. Scope of these magic bullets in colorectal cancer is discussed in this review.