title: Influence of Photodynamic Therapy on the Expression of Cancer/Testis Antigens in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a palliative treatment resulting in induction of inflammatory reactions with importance for the development of an antitumor immunity. Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) have been associated with poor prognosis in different types of cancer, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor tissue samples before and after PDT were evaluated for the expression of four different CTAs by immunohistochemistry. Expression intensity and subcellular expression pattern were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before PDT, expression of any CTA was detectable in 91%. Comparing the overall expression of CTAs, a decreased expression of all melanoma-associated antigens (MAGEs) post-treatment and a slightly increased expression of New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (NY-ESO-1) was visible. The simultaneous cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of pan-MAGE or MAGE-A3/A4 correlated with reduced treatment-failure-free-survival (TFFS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study investigated the impact of PDT on CTA expression in HNSCC, detecting modified expression patterns after PDT. These changes may have been caused by immunological pressure or epigenetic regulation of CTA expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany marie-nicole.theodoraki@uniklinik-ulm.de.
authors.forename: Marie-Nicole
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Theodoraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Hospital of German Armed Forces, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital of German Armed Forces, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Thierauf
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laban
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D013737:Testis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C104948:CTAG1B protein, human; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins
keywords: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); MAGE; NY-ESO-1; cancer/testis antigen; photodynamic therapy