The cancer-testis antigens CT7 (MAGE-C1) and MAGE-A3/6 are commonly expressed in multiple myeloma and correlate with plasma-cell proliferation.
Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of plasma cells. Vaccine immunotherapy is among the novel therapeutic strategies under investigation for this disease. To identify myeloma-associated antigens as potential targets for vaccine immunotherapy, we surveyed a comprehensive panel of bone marrow specimens from patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma for expression of cancer-testis (CT) antigens. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) demonstrated that 82% of stage-III myeloma specimens expressed the CT antigen CT7 (also known as melanoma antigen C1 [MAGE-C1]) and 70% expressed MAGE-A3/6. Messenger RNA for CT7 and MAGE-A family members was detected in 87% and 100% of stage-III samples, respectively. CT7 protein expression increased with advanced stage of disease. Higher levels of CT7 and MAGE-A3/6 proteins also correlated with elevated plasma-cell proliferation. These results show that CT7 and MAGE-A3/6 are promising myeloma-associated antigens for application in vaccine immunotherapy. Furthermore, the common expression and correlation with proliferation suggest a possible pathogenic role for these proteins in myeloma.
Jungbluth
Achim A
AA
New York Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA.
Ely
Scott
S
DiLiberto
Maurizio
M
Niesvizky
Ruben
R
Williamson
Barbara
B
Frosina
Denise
D
Chen
Yao-Tseng
YT
Bhardwaj
Nina
N
Chen-Kiang
Selina
S
Old
Lloyd J
LJ
Cho
Hearn Jay
HJ
D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; C110905:MAGEC1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger