P51. Identification of prostate cancer-associated antigens by oxygen manipulation

Background Therapeutic vaccination against prostate cancer (CaP) remains marginally effective. A reason for failure may stem from the fact that vaccine cells are usually cultured in ordinary air. Solid tumours including CaP contain regions with oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) secondary to the lack of blood supply to the growing tumour nodules, which may lead to changes in expression of cancer-associated antigens in tumour cells. To test this hypothesis we determined whether oxygen-sensitive CaP-associated antigens in cultured CaP cell lines and human tumour tissues exist.