Expression of the MAGE-A4 and NY-ESO-1 cancer-testis antigens and T cell infiltration in non-small cell lung carcinoma and their prognostic significance.
Cancer-testis (CT) antigens were identified as a group of highly attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy because of their expression in a variety of malignant tumors but solely in the testis among the normal adult tissues. To evaluate the potential of two members of this family, MAGE-A4 and NY-ESO-1 antigens, for cancer vaccine in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), we examined the expression of these antigens and T cell infiltration in tumor tissue, and evaluated their prognostic significance. One hundred fifty-seven patients with NSCLC were studied. Reverse transcription-PCR was performed to evaluate MAGE-A4 and NY-ESO-1 expression. Immunohistochemistry was performed for NY-ESO-1 expression and T cell infiltration into the tumor site. Survival analysis was also performed. MAGE-A4 and NY-ESO-1 were expressed in 40 of 141 (28.4%) and 13 of 157 (8.3%) NSCLC respectively. Both CT antigens were more frequently expressed in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) than in adenocarcinoma. An inverse correlation was found between MAGE-A4 expression and patient survival in advanced stage cancers. Combined infiltration of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells into tumor nest predicted better survival. There was no correlation, however, between lymphocyte infiltration and antigen expression in the tumor. MAGE-A4 expression in advanced group and T cell infiltration may provide prognostic information. Lastly, these CT antigens, especially MAGE-A4, may represent potential targets for cancer immunotherapy in patients with NSCLC.
Yoshida
Naofumi
N
Division of Immunoregulation, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0815, Japan.
Abe
Hiroyuki
H
Ohkuri
Takayuki
T
Wakita
Daiko
D
Sato
Masayoshi
M
Noguchi
Daisuke
D
Miyamoto
Masaki
M
Morikawa
Toshiaki
T
Kondo
Satoshi
S
Ikeda
Hiroaki
H
Nishimura
Takashi
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C104948:CTAG1B protein, human; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D017931:DNA Primers; C095204:MAGEA4 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins