Cancer-testis antigens: expression and correlation with survival in human urothelial carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Vaccination against human cancer is a promising therapeutic approach but the optimal antigen or antigens remain undefined. Cancer-testis antigens (CTA), a family of tumor-associated antigens, have both potent immunogenicity and restricted expression patterns in normal adult tissues, highly desirable characteristics for targets of anticancer vaccines. These antigens were evaluated for both the degree of expression and prognostic value in cancer of the urothelium.


METHODS
The expression patterns of nine CTAs (NY-ESO-1, LAGE-1, MAGE-A1, MAGE-A3, MAGE-A4, MAGE-A10, CT7, CT10, and GAGE) were examined by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-PCR in a panel of high-grade urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder. Also assessed were correlations between the expression of CTAs by immunohistochemistry and both disease-free and overall survival.


RESULTS
At least one CTA was expressed in 77% of samples and 61% of these tumors expressed more than one CTA. Additionally, patients with CT10-positive tumors had an improved disease-free survival (P=0.008) and overall survival (P=0.037) compared with patients with CT10-negative tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings establish CTAs as potential prognostic markers and as target candidates for vaccine development for patients with urothelial carcinoma.
Sharma
Padmanee
P
Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. padsharma@mdanderson.org
Shen
Yu
Y
Wen
Sijin
S
Bajorin
Dean F
DF
Reuter
Victor E
VE
Old
Lloyd J
LJ
Jungbluth
Achim A
AA
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D013737:Testis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm