MHC class I antigen processing pathway defects, ras mutations and disease stage in colorectal carcinoma.
Colorectal tumorigenesis has been associated with the progressive acquisition of a variety of genetic alterations. These include mutations of the Ki-ras proto-oncogene in codons 12 and 13, which account for 85% of genetic changes in colorectal cancer. In murine in vitro models of oncogenic transformation, an association between ras-mediated transformation and downregulation of different components of the MHC class I antigen processing machinery (APM) has been described. In order to investigate whether this association also exists in human tumors, 10 cases of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HIN), as well as primary tumors and autologous lymph node metastases from 42 patients with colorectal carcinoma, were monitored by allele-specific restriction analysis for Ki-ras mutations. In parallel, APM component expression and tumor cell proliferation were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In comparison to autologous colorectal mucosa, TAP1, LMP2 and tapasin loss was found in 68%, 67% and 80% of HIN, respectively. In contrast, impaired TAP1, LMP2 and tapasin expression was found in 42%, 42% and 63% of primary adenocarcinomas of stage III disease and in 63%, 47% and 79% of the matched lymph node metastases, respectively. More than 60% of colorectal tumor lesions with TAP1, LMP2 and/or tapasin defects displayed Ki-ras mutations. The frequency of TAP1, LMP2 and tapasin loss varied between 33% of primary adenocarcinomas, 40% of HIN to approximately 67% of metastases. These data suggest that i) APM component deficiencies occur more frequently in Ki-ras-mutated colorectal carcinoma lesions and ii) APM abnormalities in conjunction with Ki-ras mutations appear to be associated with disease stage. These findings support the hypothesis that Ki-ras mutations may contribute to immune escape mechanisms of tumors by downregulating the MHC class I APM component expression.
Atkins
Derek
D
Johannes Gutenberg-University, Third Department of Internal Medicine, Mainz, Germany. datkins@wuppertal.helios-kliniken.de
Breuckmann
Aldona
A
Schmahl
Gerd E
GE
Binner
Priska
P
Ferrone
Soldano
S
Krummenauer
Frank
F
Störkel
Stephan
S
Seliger
Barbara
B
D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D000071450:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000235:genetics*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas
D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D000071450:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; C073119:TAP1 protein, human; C071313:LMP-2 protein; C071692:TAP2 protein, human; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C077436:LMP7 protein; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex