title: Expression and prognostic significance of cancer-testis antigens (CTA) in intrahepatic cholagiocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are suitable targets for cancer-specific immunotherapy. The aim of the study is to investigate the expression of CTAs in intrahepatic cholagiocarcinoma (IHCC) and evaluate their potential therapeutic values.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine IHCC patients were retrospectively assessed for their expression of CTAs and HLA Class I by immunohistochemistry using the following antibodies: MA454 recognizing MAGE-A1, 57B recognizing multiple MAGE-A (MAGE-A3/A4), E978 recognizing NY-ESO-1, and EMR8-5 recognizing HLA class I. The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of individual CTA markers and their combination were further evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression rates of MAGE-A1, MAGE-A3/4 and NY-ESO-1 were 29.2%, 27.0% and 22.5%, respectively. The concomitant expression of CTAs and HLA class I antigen was observed in 33.7% of the IHCC tumors. We found that positive MAGE-3/4 expression correlated with larger tumor size (≥ 5 cm), tumor recurrence and poor prognosis. Moreover, we identified 52 cases (58.4%) of IHCC patients with at least one CTA marker expression, and this subgroup displayed a higher frequency of larger tumor size and a shorter survival than the other cases. Furthermore, expression of at least one CTA marker was also an independent prognostic factor in patients with IHCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that specific immunotherapy targeted CTAs might be a novel treatment option for IHCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Henan Tumor Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, PR China.
authors.forename: Jin-Xue
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sun-Xiao
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: An-Mei
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C104948:CTAG1B protein, human; D006680:HLA Antigens; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; C095204:MAGEA4 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins