Objective: To elucidate distinct functions of a recently identified cancer metastasis-associated molecule

related to testes-specific

vespid

and pathogenesis protein-1 （RTVP-1） in the mammalian immune system. Methods: Immunohistochemical assays and functional analysis on the immune system were performed on RTVP-/- mice and RTVP-1+/+ mice. Protein-protein interaction （PPI） was used to predict the functions of RTVP-1. Results: Abnormal lymphocyte growth kinetics and reduced numbers of CD8+ T cells were revealed in lymph nodes of RTVP-1-/- mice. Expression of phenotypic markers of maturation in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells （DC） was impaired in RTVP-1-/- DC following antigenic stimulation in vitro and RTVP-1-/- DC failed to provide normal CD4+ T cell stimulatory activities in vivo. RTVP-1-/- mice failed to generate normal CTL or antibody responses in vivo after vaccination. In vivo tumor challenge experiments using a mouse cancer cell line demonstrated that the growth rate of subcutaneous tumors in RTVP-1-/- mice was significantly increased and CD8+ T cell infiltration significantly reduced compared to RTVP-1+/+ mice. PPI showed that RTVP-1 protein closely interacted with molecules associated with immune response and cancer metastasis. Conclusion: RTVP-1 might function as a tumor metastasis suppressor and immunosurveillance molecule in cancer.