title: Clinical significance and regulation of the costimulatory molecule B7-H1 in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: We investigated the expression pattern and clinical significance of the costimulatory ligands B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, and B7-DC, and their counter-receptors CTLA-4 and PD-1 in pancreatic cancer. Gene expression of all examined costimulatory molecules was significantly upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues. B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, and B7-DC protein was detectable in pancreatic cancer cells. Only the expression of B7-H1 significantly correlated with postoperative survival (p<0.0001). B7-H1 was inducible in cultured pancreatic cancer cells by IFN-gamma and significantly correlated with the level of IFN-gamma expression in human pancreatic cancer tissues (Spearman rho=0.4536,p=0.0029). B7-H1 positive tumors showed an increased prevalence of tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells (Tregs) compared to B7-H1 negative tumors. Among the investigated costimulatory molecules only tumor-associated B7-H1 seems to be of prognostic relevance in pancreatic cancer. B7-H1 might, therefore, be involved in the downregulation of antitumor responses through regulation of Tregs in pancreatic cancer. Our findings also suggest a dual role of IFN-gamma in antitumor response. Through induction of B7-H1 in pancreatic cancer cells IFN-gamma might contribute to the evasion of antitumor immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loos
authors.forename: Nathalia A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Giese
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kleeff
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giese
authors.forename: Matthias M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gaida
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laschinger
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: W Büchler
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friess
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D051940:B7-2 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D061027:Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 Protein; D016019:Survival Analysis; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; C556977:PDCD1LG2 protein, human; D061027:Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 Protein; D007371:Interferon-gamma