NudC Domain Containing Protein 1 (NUDCD1)

The CML66 gene encodes a 583-amino acid protein with a molecular mass of 66 kD that is expressed in leukemias and a variety of solid tumor cell lines. Northern blot analysis showed expression in normal tissues restricted to testis and heart, and no expression was found in hematopoietic tissues. Expression in CML cells examined by quantitative RT-PCR was 1.5-fold higher than in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The presence of CML66-specific antibody in patient serum was confirmed by Western blot and the development of high-titer IgG antibody specific for CML66 correlated with immune-induced remission of CML in a patient who received infusion of normal donor lymphocytes for treatment of relapse. CML66 antibody also was found in sera from 18 to 38% of patients with lung cancer, melanoma, or prostate cancer.