title: Mutations of the beta2-microglobulin gene result in a lack of HLA class I molecules on melanoma cells of two patients immunized with MAGE peptides.
abstract: Mutations have been identified in the beta2-microglobulin gene of tumor cells of two metastatic melanoma patients who received immunizations with MAGE peptides. One mutation abolishes the start codon whereas the other introduces a premature stop codon. The second beta2-microglobulin allele of both tumors appears to be lost on the basis of sequence data and loss of microsatellite heterozygosity. The lack of beta2-microglobulin gene product results in the absence of HLA class I antigens on the surface of the tumor cells. This may explain why the tumors of both patients progressed despite the immunization treatment and shows the necessity of analyzing in depth the antigen presentation capability of the tumor cells for the interpretation of clinical trials involving anti-tumor vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Analisis Clinicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benitez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Godelaine
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lopez-Nevot
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brasseur
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Baren
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andry
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Landry
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Cabello
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garrido
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin