Serpentine transmembrane antigens expressed in human cancers and uses thereof

US7928201B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Latency, LLC · US

Inventors

• Daniel Afar · Santa Monica, US
• Rene S. Hubert · Los Angeles, US
• Kahan Leong · El Segundo, US
• Arthur B. Raitano · Los Angeles, US
• Douglas Saffran · Los Angeles, US
• Stephen Chappell Mitchell · Santa Monica, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 7, 2009
• Grant date: Apr 19, 2011
• Expiry date: Oct 7, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/143333
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Described is a novel family of cell surface serpentine transmembrane antigens. Two of the proteins in this family are exclusively or predominantly expressed in the prostate, as well as in prostate cancer, and thus members of this family have been termed “STEAP” (Six Transmembrane Epithelial Antigens of the Prostate). Four particular human STEAPs are described and characterized herein. The prototype member of the STEAP family, STEAP-1, appears to be a type IIIa membrane protein expressed predominantly in prostate cells in normal human tissues. Structurally, STEAP-1 is a 339 amino acid protein characterized by a molecular topology of six transmembrane domains and intracellular N- and C-termini, suggesting that it folds in a “serpentine” manner into three extracellular and two intracellular loops. STEAP-1 protein expression is maintained at high levels across various stages of prostate cancer. Moreover, STEAP-1 is highly over-expressed in certain other human cancers.