# ROLE OF ONCOFETAL ANTIGENS IN RADIATION CARCINOGENESIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA · 1992 · $215,246

## Abstract

Embryonic or fetal antigens (EAs) are expressed on developing rodent fetus
(mouse, hamster, rat, guinea pig) and on human fetus.  EAs on the embryo
cells arouse cellular and humoral immune responses in their syngeneically
pregnant mothers which have been partially characterized.  Antigens
cross-reactive with EAs have been detected on every major histologic class
of rodent and human tumor.  These reexpressed EAs or fetal gene products on
tumors are termed oncofetal antigens (OFAs).  Little is known about the
expression or regulation of the immune responses to ionizing radiation
promoted neoplasia or the effects of radiation on immune responses to
OFAs.  The specific goals of the proposed study are to confirm the presence
of specific OFAs on radiation-induced primary tumors of mice using unique
monoclonal antibodies prepared against phasespecific mouse embryonic
antigens by immunization with syngeneic fetus.  The EA epitopes reactive
with these selected monoclonal antibodies have been partially
characterized.  Then, the time course of OFA expression in radiation
promoted neoplasia would be assessed in vitro and in vivo.  The irradiated
host's immunoregulatory responses to specific OFAs will be carefully
catalogued.  The effects of acute whole body irradiation on the specific
immune response potential to OFA expression on primary and passaged
radiation-induced tumors would be determined from these studies.  The
objectives of the project are to determine (1) if specific OFA expression
is a fundamental trait of radiation-induced tumors in mice and (2) whether
radiation-induced damage of the immune response contributes to lymphoma or
sarcoma development.  We will determine if activation of c onc-gene
expression parallels OFA expression and if c-onc or v-onc gene encoded
products and OFAs are interrelated.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179041
- **Project number:** 5R01CA039698-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** QB12VPNQQFE8
- **Principal Investigator:** JOSEPH H COGGIN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $215,246
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-04-01 → 1994-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179041

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179041, ROLE OF ONCOFETAL ANTIGENS IN RADIATION CARCINOGENESIS (5R01CA039698-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179041. Licensed CC0.

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