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rNTRODUCTION In the past there was much speculation as to the existence of tumor antigens because the molecular etiology of cancer was a mystery. The molecular changes associated with malignant transformation have now either been defined or are definable by current methods. Malignant transformation is the end result of altered expression of genes related to normal cell growth control and differentiation. Altered expression results from a variety of mechanisms including gene amplification. somatic DNA mutation and gene translocation. Each mechanism results in the expression of proteins that have the potential to serve as tumor antigens and thus as targets for T ce1t therapy. Gene amplification results in the expression of normal proteins but in markedly increased amounts. Overexpression of individual proteins can result in peptides from that protein being presented in higher concentrations by MHC molcecules. An essential component of the immune system is that many epitopes of proteins are ignored. An increase in the expression of a protein and the resultant increase
Cheever et al. (Thu,) studied this question.