Reduced Expression of the Antigen Processing Machinery Components TAP2, LMP2, and LMP7 in Tonsillar and Base of Tongue Cancer and Implications for Clinical Outcome.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (BOTSCC) have a better clinical outcome than those with corresponding HPV-negative tumors. Moreover, there is a strong positive correlation between absent/low as opposed to strong HLA class I expression and favorable clinical outcome for HPV-positive tumors, while the reverse applies to HPV-negative tumors. The expression of the antigen processing machinery (APM) components TAP1, TAP2, LMP2, and LMP7 in these tumors in relation to HPV status, HLA class I expression, each other, and clinical outcome was therefore investigated.


METHODS
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded TSCC and BOTSCC, derived from 151 patients and previously analyzed for HPV DNA, HLA class I, and LMP10 expression were stained by immunohistochemistry for TAP1, TAP2, LMP2, and LMP7.


RESULTS
Absent/low TAP2, LMP2, and LMP7 expression, similar to HLA class I and LMP10, was common in TSCC and BOTSCC, irrespective of HPV status. Expression of TAP1 and TAP2 was correlated, as was LMP2 to LMP7. LMP2 and LMP7 expression was also associated to HLA class I expression. Moreover, absence of LMP7 was linked to increased disease-free survival in both HPV-positive and HPV-negative cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced expression of TAP2, LMP2, and LMP7 was frequent in TSCC and BOTSCC and their expression as well as that of TAP1 was often interrelated. Furthermore, low LMP7 expression correlated to better clinical outcome and may, together with HPV status, potentially be used for prediction of treatment response.
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Nikolaos
N
Tertipis
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Linnea
L
Haeggblom
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Nathalie
N
Grün
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Cecilia
C
Nordfors
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Anders
A
Näsman
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Tina
T
Dalianis
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: torbjorn.ramqvist@ki.se.
Torbjörn
T
Ramqvist