Tumor-associated antigens as possible targets for immune therapy in head and neck cancer: comparative mRNA expression analysis of RAGE and GAGE genes.
Specific immune therapy targeting residual areas of cancer cells may emerge as a powerful treatment strategy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In order to define possible targets for immune therapy, we evaluated the frequency of two groups of tumor antigens-the RAGE and GAGE families-by means of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using primary HNSCCs (n = 28), mucosa specimens as normal controls (n = 10) and HNSCC cell lines (n = 6). By means of specific primer selection we could differentiate between RAGE-1, -2, -3 and -4, as well as between two groups of GAGE genes (GAGE-1,2,7 vs GAGE-3,4,5,6,8). While all mucosa tissues (from smokers and non-smokers) were negative for both antigen families, 24/28 investigated tumors were positive for up to 5 tumor antigens. Among the RAGE genes, RAGE-1-positive tumors were the most abundant (8/28), followed by RAGE-2 (7/28) and RAGE-4 (6/28). Differences in the locations of HNSCCs were reflected by different RAGE family members being expressed most frequently: larynx, RAGE-1; oropharynx, RAGE-2; and hypopharynx, RAGE-4. Primers against GAGE-1,2,7 and GAGE-3,4,5,6,8 revealed 6/27 and 16/27 positive tumors, respectively. This report suggests that RAGE genes and GAGE-3,4,5,6,8 may be promising candidates for specific immune therapy in HNSCC.
Götte
Karl
K
karl.goette@hno.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Usener
Dirk
D
Riedel
Frank
F
Hörmann
Karl
K
Schadendorf
Dirk
D
Eichmüller
Stefan
S
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D005136:Eye Proteins; C095365:GAGE1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products