From sequence of tumor liberated protein (TLP) to potential targets for diagnosis and therapy

Over the past few decades, tremendous progress has been made in the understanding of how cancer evades the immune system, which in turn offers new ways to stop cancer immune evasion in favor of eliminating cancer cells. TLP complexes (proteins released from tumors) show antigenic activity that may be applied for diagnostic aims and represent a target for immunotherapy. TLP antigens are proteins found in many cells, and one of the main components was first isolated from lung cancer tissues. From this protein, it was obtained an epitope on whose basis it was possible to develope a rabbit anti-TLP serum [1]. In fact, the antibodies devolped against these antigens are able to mark lung carcinoma tissues and to recognize the specific sequences previously found in TLP. In addition, TLP was found in sera from patients with lung and colorectal cancer, in lung and colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines and detected in DHD-K12 cell line in vitro and in vivo, in metastases induced by DHD-K12 cell injection in rats. Furthermore, TLP exerts specific mitogenic activity as its intradermic inoculation results in lymphocyte blastogenesis [2]. In conclusion, the investigation of the anticancer activities of several plants extracts has provided some evidence for the potential clinical application. Many vegetal extracts and natural compounds act as anticancer agents exerting a cytotoxic effect against some cancer cells and increasing host immunity, potentialy increasing organism ability to fight cancer [3].

References:

1. Tarro G, Esposito C, Perna A, et al. Immunoistochemical characterization of tumor liberated particles (TLP) expression pattern in lung cancer. Anticancer Res. 1998; 18:2365–2370.
2. Tarro G, Pederzini A, Flaminio G, et al. Human tumor antigens inducing in vivo delayed hypersensitivity and in vitro mitogenic activity. Oncology. 1983; 40:248–254.
3. Rossi A, Voigtlaender M, Klose H and et al. High Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Levels are Detectable in the Serum of Patients with Lung Cancer and may be Exploited as Screening Biomarkers. Hindawi Journal of Oncology, vol 2019, article ID 8970645, 11 pages, https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8970645

Giulio Filippo Giacomo Tarro, graduated summa cum laude from Naples University (N.U.) in 1962. Assistant to Medical Pathology at N.U., 1963-1965, and Research Associate at Division of Virology and Cancer Research, Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1965-1968, and then assistant professor of Research Pediatrics, 1968-1969, Professor of Oncological Virology at N.U. 1972-1985. He worked for CNR, Rome, 1969-1972, and for NCI, Frederick Center, Maryland, 1973. He became Division Chief of Virology 1973-2003, and then Department Chief of Diagnostic Laboratories, 2003-2006, D. Cotugno Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Naples; Emeritus, 2006. His basic researches have been concerned with antigens induced early during the replication cycle of human herpesviruses. Achievements include patents in field; discovery of vibrio cholera in 1973 during Naples epidemy, of RSV virus in infant deaths in Naples 1979 and of tumor liberated protein  (TLP) as a tumor associated antigen, 50 kilodalton, overexpressed in lung tumors and other epithelial adenocarcinomas. Scientific Coordinator extracorporeal hyperthermia in HCV patients, First Circle Medicine, Minneapolis., 2000-03. Since 2007 he is Chairman Committee on VirusSphere (WABT). Dr. Tarro is on the editorial board of various medical journals and has been elected to membership and/or presidence of many academies and societies. Recipient of many awards and honours. Adjunct Professor Department Biology Temple University, Philadelphia, and lifetime achievement award, 2010. Since 2015 Editor in Chief, Journal of Vaccine Research and Development, Singapore. Life President Foundation Teresa & Luigi de Beaumont Bonelli for Cancer Research, DORSO award with Italian President plate given at Republic Senate (Rome 2019).