Association between soluble MICA levels and disease stage IV oral squamous cell carcinoma in Japanese patients.
The soluble form of major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) is released from the surface of tumor cells of epithelial origin. Although MICA expressed on the cell surface stimulates the immunoreceptor natural killer (NK) group 2, member D (NKG2D), the secreted form downregulates NKG2D activity, thus allowing the tumor to escape immunosurveillance by NKG2D-expressing cells. In this study, we examined the association between serum levels of soluble MICA and the severity of disease in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We used enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay to measure serum levels of soluble MICA in OSCC patients and normal control individuals. Among patients categorized according to most disease parameters tested (tumor size, location, grade of differentiation, regional lymph node status, disease stage), soluble MICA levels in sera did not statistically differ from those in normal control individuals. Patients with stage IV disease and/or regional lymph node metastasis did, however, exhibit significantly higher serum levels of soluble MICA than control individuals (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.65-2.45, p = 0.021, and 95% CI, 0.62-4.42, p = 0.031, respectively). Overall survival rates were significantly higher for OSCC patients with low soluble MICA levels (<50 pg/ml) than for those with high soluble MICA levels (>50 pg/ml) (95% CI, 0.43-2.75, p = 0.03). Serum levels of soluble MICA may be useful in the diagnosis of advanced stage OSCC and as an indicator of regional lymph node metastasis.
Tamaki
Shigehiro
S
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan. tamakitama@Zeus.eonet.ne.jp <tamakitama@Zeus.eonet.ne.jp>
Sanefuzi
Nobuyuki
N
Kawakami
Masayoshi
M
Aoki
Kumiko
K
Imai
Yuichiro
Y
Yamanaka
Yasutsugu
Y
Yamamoto
Kazuhiko
K
Ishitani
Akiko
A
Hatake
Katsuhiko
K
Kirita
Tadaaki
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C099187:MHC class I-related chain A