title: Increased NY-ESO-1 expression and reduced infiltrating CD3+ T cells in cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: NY-ESO-1 is a cancer-testis antigen aberrantly expressed in melanomas, which may serve as a robust and specific target in immunotherapy. NY-ESO-1 antigen expression, tumor features, and the immune profile of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes were assessed in primary cutaneous melanoma. NY-ESO-1 protein was detected in 20% of invasive melanomas (16/79), rarely in in situ melanoma (1/10) and not in benign nevi (0/20). Marked intratumoral heterogeneity of NY-ESO-1 protein expression was observed. NY-ESO-1 expression was associated with increased primary tumor thickness (P = 0.007) and inversely correlated with superficial spreading melanoma (P < 0.02). NY-ESO-1 expression was also associated with reduced numbers and density of CD3+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (P = 0.017). When NY-ESO-1 protein was expressed, CD3+ T cells were less diffusely infiltrating the tumor and were more often arranged in small clusters (P = 0.010) or as isolated cells (P = 0.002) than in large clusters of more than five lymphocytes. No correlation of NY-ESO-1 expression with gender, age, tumor site, ulceration, lymph node sentinel status, or survival was observed. NY-ESO-1 expression in melanoma was associated with tumor progression, including increased tumor thickness, and with reduced tumor infiltrating lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 255, 3° Andar, 05403-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giavina-Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 255, 8° Andar, 05403-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giavina-Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 255, 3° Andar, 05403-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mirian Nacagami
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sotto
authors.affiliation: MGH Biostatistics Center, 50 Staniford Street, Suite 560, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Alona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muzikansky
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 255, 8° Andar, 05403-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalil
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 255, 3° Andar, 05403-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cyro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Festa-Neto
authors.affiliation: Dermatopathology Unit, Pathology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Warren Building 825, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Lyn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001938:Brazil; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms; D055815:Young Adult; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; C104948:CTAG1B protein, human; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D008565:Membrane Proteins