High expression of cancer testis antigens MAGE-A, MAGE-C1/CT7, MAGE-C2/CT10, NY-ESO-1, and gage in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.
BACKGROUND
Despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances in head and neck cancer, the 5-year survival of patients with laryngeal cancer has not improved in the last 30 years. Several recent studies indicate that specific targets for immunotherapeutic approaches can be useful in the control of cancer. There is considerable interest in the expression of cancer testis antigens in human cancers since they may serve as the basis for an immunologic approach to therapy.


METHODS
We evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis the expression of cancer testis antigens MAGE-A4 (57B), MAGE-C1 (CT7-33), MAGE-A1 (MA454), MAGE-A3 (M3H67), MAGE-C2 (CT10.5), NY-ESO-1 (E978), and GAGE (GAGE) in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx.


RESULTS
A total of 63 cases (57 men and 6 women) of laryngeal SCC were available for this study. The findings were correlated with the clinical course and laboratory data. Expression of at least 1 cancer testis antigen was detected in 42 of 63 of the laryngeal SCCs (67%). In 34 of 42 of the positive cases (81%) there was simultaneous expression of ≥2 cancer testis antigens. There was significant correlation between antigen expression and advanced tumor stage (stage III/IV) in cases with reactivity to only 1 antibody (p = .01) as well as in the cases with reactivity to ≥2 primary antibodies (≥2 mAbs, p = .04). There was no association between survival and expression of any of the analyzed antigens.


CONCLUSIONS
We find a high incidence of cancer testis antigen expression in SCCs of the larynx, which was correlated with advanced clinical stage. Our data indicate that cancer testis antigens could be valuable vaccine targets in laryngeal tumors, especially in those with a worse prognosis.
Figueiredo
David L A
DL
Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaringology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. davidlaf@terra.com.br
Mamede
Rui C M
RC
Spagnoli
Giulio C
GC
Silva
Wilson A
WA
Zago
Marco
M
Neder
Luciano
L
Jungbluth
Achim A
AA
Saggioro
Fabiano P
FP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C104948:CTAG1B protein, human; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; C110905:MAGEC1 protein, human; C405429:MAGEC2 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins