Expression of cancer testis antigens CT10 (MAGE-C2) and GAGE in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
BACKGROUND
Expression of cancer testis antigens (CTAs) has been associated with prognosis in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and other malignancies. CTAs are currently being investigated for cancer immunotherapy.


METHODS
We analyzed two CTAs, CT10/MAGE-C2 and GAGE, in 51 GIST by immunohistochemistry and correlated it with established histopathological criteria for malignancy.


RESULTS
GAGE expression was found in 6/51 (12%) patients, whereas 5/51 (10%) patients expressed CT10/MAGE-C2. 7/51(14%) patients expressed at least one of both CTAs, in 4/51 (8%) patients both CTAs were positive. High-grade GIST are more likely to express GAGE (p = 0.002) and CT10/MAGE-C2 (p = 0.007) compared to less aggressive tumors. All patients with GAGE or CT10/MAGE-C2 expression had moderate- or high-risk of recurrence according to the established risk criteria. The presence of GAGE correlates with mitotic rate (p = 0.001) and tumor size (p = 0.02), but not with tumor location (p = 0.60). CT10/MAGE-C2 also significantly correlates with mitotic rate (p = 0.004) and tumor size (p = 0.002), whereas no correlation could be found with tumor location (p = 0.36).


CONCLUSIONS
CT10/MAGE-C2 and GAGE should be explored together with other previously described CTAs as targets for immunotherapy of GIST in cases, which are refractory to conventional therapy.
Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
T
T
Ghadban
Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: d.perez@uke.de.
D R
DR
Perez
Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Y K
YK
Vashist
Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
M
M
Bockhorn
Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
A M
AM
Koenig
Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
A T
AT
El Gammal
Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
J R
JR
Izbicki
General City Hospital Triemli, Department of Surgery, Birmensdorferstrasse 497, 8063 Zurich, Switzerland.
U
U
Metzger
General City Hospital Triemli, Department of Surgery, Birmensdorferstrasse 497, 8063 Zurich, Switzerland.
F
F
Hauswirth
Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
D
D
Frosina
Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
A A
AA
Jungbluth
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C405429:MAGEC2 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins
CT10/MAGE-C2; GAGE; Gastrointestinal stromal tumor; Prognosis