title: Ex vivo characterization of tumor-derived melanoma antigen encoding gene-specific CD8+cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Members of the melanoma antigen encoding gene family are expressed in tumors of different histological types but not in normal tissue. For this reason, they are attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, we analyzed the expression of MAGE-1 and -3 genes in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue as well as frequency, phenotype and function of circulating and tumor infiltrating CD8+ cells specific for HLA-A1 and -A2 restricted epitopes of MAGE-1 and -3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study shows for the first time the presence of MAGE/tetramer+ CD8 cells in the tumor tissue of patients with HCC. These cells are able to recognize the MAGE-1 sequence 161-169 and the MAGE-3 sequence 271-279. In a patient with a particularly high frequency of MAGE-1 sequence 161-169-specific T cells, phenotypic and functional analysis was performed showing a phenotype of recently-primed CD8 cells (CD28+CD27+CD45RA-CCR7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observation of a spontaneous in vivo priming of a MAGE-specific T cell response in patients with HCC and the high frequency of MAGE antigens expression in this tumor, makes this antigen a potential candidate for a MAGE-specific immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Divisione Malattie Infettive ed Epatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zerbini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pilli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soliani
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelosi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orlandini
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uggeri
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scandroglio
authors.forename: Pellegrino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Crafa
authors.forename: Giulio C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Missale
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D016827:CD8 Antigens; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger