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Forchhammer S, Pop OT, Hahn M, Aebischer V, Seitz CM, Schroeder C, Liebmann A, Abele M, Wild H, Bien E, Kunc M, Schneider DT, Cuk K, Büttel I, Flemmig C, Peters M, Laible M, Brück P, Türeci Ö, Sahin U, Flatz L, Brecht IB. Expression of the tumor antigens NY-ESO-1, tyrosinase, MAGE-A3, and TPTE in pediatric and adult melanoma: a retrospective case control study. Virchows Arch 2024:10.1007/s00428-024-03846-0. [PMID: 38890171 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-024-03846-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are potential targets for T cell-based immunotherapy approaches in cutaneous melanoma. BNT111, an investigational lipoplex-formulated mRNA-based therapeutic cancer vaccine encoding melanoma TAAs NY-ESO-1, tyrosinase, MAGE-A3, and TPTE, is undergoing clinical testing in adults. Expression of these TAAs in pediatric melanoma is unclear but is a prerequisite for feasibility of this treatment approach in children with melanoma. Our main objective was to characterize expression of those TAAs in pediatric melanomas compared to control cohorts. In this retrospective case control study, protein and transcript expression of NY-ESO-1, tyrosinase, MAGE-A3, and TPTE were analyzed in a cohort of 25 pediatric melanomas, 31 melanomas of young adults, 29 adult melanomas, and 30 benign melanocytic nevi in children using immunohistochemical staining and digital pathology (QuPath) and reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Based on IHC analysis, pediatric melanomas expressed tyrosinase (100.0%), TPTE (44.0%), MAGE-A3 (12.0%), and NY-ESO-1 (8.0%). Young adult melanomas expressed tyrosinase (96.8%), NY-ESO-1 (19.4%), MAGE-A3 (19.4%), and TPTE (3.2%). Adult melanomas expressed tyrosinase (86.2%), MAGE-A3 (75.9%), NY-ESO-1 (48.3%), and TPTE (48.3%). Childhood melanocytic nevi only expressed tyrosinase (93.3%). Expression prevalence of individual TAAs did not differ between subtypes of pediatric melanoma, and no association with prognosis was found. All four TAAs were expressed in pediatric melanoma, albeit NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A3 to a lesser extent than in adult melanoma. These data support the possibility of investigating vaccines targeting these TAAs for the treatment of pediatric melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Forchhammer
- Department of Dermatology, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Liebermeisterstrasse 25, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Oltin Tiberiu Pop
- Institute for Immunobiology, Kantonsspital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Hahn
- Department of Dermatology, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Liebermeisterstrasse 25, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Valentin Aebischer
- Department of Dermatology, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Liebermeisterstrasse 25, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Christian M Seitz
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Christopher Schroeder
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Alexandra Liebmann
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Michael Abele
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Hannah Wild
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ewa Bien
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Michal Kunc
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Dominik T Schneider
- Clinic of Pediatrics, Dortmund Municipal Hospital, University Witten/Herdecke, Dortmund, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lukas Flatz
- Department of Dermatology, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Liebermeisterstrasse 25, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
- Institute for Immunobiology, Kantonsspital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Ines B Brecht
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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2
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Traynor S, Jakobsen MK, Green TM, Komic H, Palarasah Y, Pedersen CB, Ditzel HJ, Thoren FB, Guldberg P, Gjerstorff MF. Single-cell sequencing unveils extensive intratumoral heterogeneity of cancer/testis antigen expression in melanoma and lung cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008759. [PMID: 38886115 PMCID: PMC11184195 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) are widely expressed in melanoma and lung cancer, emerging as promising targets for vaccination strategies and T-cell-based therapies in these malignancies. Despite recognizing the essential impact of intratumoral heterogeneity on clinical responses to immunotherapy, our understanding of intratumoral heterogeneity in CTA expression has remained limited. We employed single-cell mRNA sequencing to delineate the CTA expression profiles of cancer cells in clinically derived melanoma and lung cancer samples. Our findings reveal a high degree of intratumoral transcriptional heterogeneity in CTA expression. In melanoma, every cell expressed at least one CTA. However, most individual CTAs, including the widely used therapeutic targets NY-ESO-1 and MAGE, were confined to subpopulations of cells and were uncoordinated in their expression, resulting in mosaics of cancer cells with diverse CTA profiles. Coordinated expression was observed, however, mainly among highly structurally and evolutionarily related CTA genes. Importantly, a minor subset of CTAs, including PRAME and several members of the GAGE and MAGE-A families, were homogenously expressed in melanomas, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets. Extensive heterogeneity in CTA expression was also observed in lung cancer. However, the frequency of CTA-positive cancer cells was notably lower and homogenously expressed CTAs were only identified in one of five tumors in this cancer type. Our findings underscore the need for careful CTA target selection in immunotherapy development and clinical testing and offer a rational framework for identifying the most promising candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Traynor
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mie K Jakobsen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Tina M Green
- Department of Pathology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Hana Komic
- TIMM Laboratory at Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Yaseelan Palarasah
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christina B Pedersen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Henrik J Ditzel
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Fredrik B Thoren
- TIMM Laboratory at Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Per Guldberg
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Danish Cancer Institute, Kobenhavn, Denmark
| | - Morten F Gjerstorff
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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3
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Nin DS, Deng LW. Biology of Cancer-Testis Antigens and Their Therapeutic Implications in Cancer. Cells 2023; 12:cells12060926. [PMID: 36980267 PMCID: PMC10047177 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumour-specific antigens have been an area of interest in cancer therapy since their discovery in the middle of the 20th century. In the era of immune-based cancer therapeutics, redirecting our immune cells to target these tumour-specific antigens has become even more relevant. Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are a class of antigens with an expression specific to the testis and cancer cells. CTAs have also been demonstrated to be expressed in a wide variety of cancers. Due to their frequency and specificity of expression in a multitude of cancers, CTAs have been particularly attractive as cancer-specific therapeutic targets. There is now a rapid expansion of CTAs being identified and many studies have been conducted to correlate CTA expression with cancer and therapy-resistant phenotypes. Furthermore, there is an increasing number of clinical trials involving using some of these CTAs as molecular targets in pharmacological and immune-targeted therapeutics for various cancers. This review will summarise the current knowledge of the biology of known CTAs in tumorigenesis and the regulation of CTA genes. CTAs as molecular targets and the therapeutic implications of these CTA-targeted anticancer strategies will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn Sijin Nin
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD 7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore 117599, Singapore
| | - Lih-Wen Deng
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD 7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore
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4
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Naik PP. Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma: A Review of Early Diagnosis and Management. World J Oncol 2021; 12:7-19. [PMID: 33738001 PMCID: PMC7935621 DOI: 10.14740/wjon1349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is a malignant tumor formed from pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. It is one of the most aggressive and fatal forms of skin malignancy. In the last decades, CM's incidence has gradually risen, with 351,880 new cases in 2015. Since the 1960s, its incidence has increased steadily, in 2019, with approximately 96,000 new cases. A greater understanding of early diagnosis and management of CM is urgently needed because of the high mortality rates due to metastatic melanoma. Timely detection of melanoma is crucial for successful treatment, but diagnosis with histopathology may also pose a significant challenge to this objective. Early diagnosis and management are essential and contribute to better survival rates of the patient. To better control this malignancy, such information is expected to be particularly useful in the early detection of possible metastatic lesions and the development of new therapeutic approaches. This article reviews the available information on the early diagnosis and management of CM and discusses such information's potential in facilitating the future prospective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyu Parth Naik
- Department of Dermatology, Saudi German Hospitals and Clinics, Hessa Street 331 West, Al Barsha 3, Exit 36 Sheikh Zayed Road, Opposite of American School, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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5
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Tio D, Kasiem FR, Willemsen M, van Doorn R, van der Werf N, Hoekzema R, Luiten RM, Bekkenk MW. Expression of cancer/testis antigens in cutaneous melanoma: a systematic review. Melanoma Res 2019; 29:349-357. [PMID: 30615012 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The cancer/testis antigen (CTA) family is a group of antigens whose expression is restricted to male germline cells of the testis and various malignancies. This expression pattern makes this group of antigens potential targets for immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to create an overview of CTA expressed by melanoma cells at mRNA and protein level. A systematic literature search was performed in Medline (PubMed) and Embase from inception up to and including February 2018. Studies were screened for eligibility by two independent reviewers. A total of 65 full-text articles were included in the final analysis. A total of 48 CTA have been studied in melanoma. Various CTA show different expression rates in primary and metastatic tumours. Of the 48 CTA, the most studied were MAGE-A3, MAGE-A1, NY-ESO-1, MAGE-A4, SSX2, MAGE-A2, MAGE-C1/CT7, SSX1, MAGE-C2/CT10 and MAGE-A12. On average, MAGE-A3 mRNA is present in 36% of primary tumours, whereas metastatic tumours have an expression rate of 55-81%. The same applies to the protein expression rate of MAGE-A3 in primary tumours, which is reported to be at 15-37%, whereas metastatic tumours have a higher expression rate of 25-70%. This trend of increased expression in metastases compared with primary tumours is observed with MAGE-A1, MAGE-A2, MAGE-A4, MAGE-A12 and NY-ESO-1. Many CTA are expressed on melanoma. This review provides an overview of the expression frequency of CTAs in melanoma and may aid in identifying CTA as the therapeutic target for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darryl Tio
- Department of Dermatology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VU University
| | - Fazira R Kasiem
- Department of Dermatology and Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam
- Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam
| | - Marcella Willemsen
- Department of Dermatology and Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam
- Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam
| | | | - Nienke van der Werf
- Medical Library, Leiden Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rick Hoekzema
- Department of Dermatology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VU University
- Department of Dermatology and Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam
| | - Rosalie M Luiten
- Department of Dermatology and Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam
- Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam
| | - Marcel W Bekkenk
- Department of Dermatology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VU University
- Department of Dermatology and Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam
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6
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Ouyang X, Telli ML, Wu JC. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Cancer Vaccines. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1510. [PMID: 31338094 PMCID: PMC6628907 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Over a century ago, it was reported that immunization with embryonic/fetal tissue could lead to the rejection of transplanted tumors in animals. Subsequent studies demonstrated that vaccination of embryonic materials in animals induced cellular and humoral immunity against transplantable tumors and carcinogen-induced tumors. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that the shared antigens between tumors and embryonic/fetal tissues (oncofetal antigens) are the key to anti-tumor immune responses in these studies. However, early oncofetal antigen-based cancer vaccines usually utilize xenogeneic or allogeneic embryonic stem cells or tissues, making it difficult to tease apart the anti-tumor immunity elicited by the oncofetal antigens vs. graft-vs.-host responses. Recently, one oncofetal antigen-based cancer vaccine using autologous induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) demonstrated marked prophylactic and therapeutic potential, suggesting critical roles of oncofetal antigens in inducing anti-tumor immunity. In this review, we present an overview of recent studies in the field of oncofetal antigen-based cancer vaccines, including single peptide-based cancer vaccines, embryonic stem cell (ESC)- and iPSC-based whole-cell vaccines, and provide insights on future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Ouyang
- Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.,Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Melinda L Telli
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.,Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.,Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.,Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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7
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Faramarzi S, Ghafouri-Fard S. Melanoma: a prototype of cancer-testis antigen-expressing malignancies. Immunotherapy 2018; 9:1103-1113. [PMID: 29032737 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2017-0091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the first malignancy in which expression and immunogenicity of cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) have been documented. Several CTAs have been shown to be expressed in melanoma samples especially those with metastatic potential. Many of them have been shown to exert oncogenic effects through modulation of essential pathways involved in melanoma. The crucial role of CTAs in the pathogenesis of melanoma, the high prevalence of expression of CTA panels in melanoma and the presence of spontaneous as well as inducible immune responses against CTAs in melanoma patients potentiate CTAs as immunotherapeutic targets. Numerous clinical trials are now ongoing to evaluate CTA-based immunotherapeutic effects in melanoma patient's survival. NY-ESO-1 and MAGE antigens have the most promising results up to now.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Faramarzi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Giavina-Bianchi MH, Giavina-Bianchi Junior PF, Festa Neto C. Melanoma: tumor microenvironment and new treatments. An Bras Dermatol 2017; 92:156-166. [PMID: 28538872 PMCID: PMC5429098 DOI: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20176183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In the recent past years, many discoveries in the tumor microenvironment have led to changes in the management of melanoma and it is rising up hopes, specially, to those in advanced stages. FDA approved seven new drugs from 2011 to 2014. They are: Vemurafenib, Dabrafenib and Trametinib, kinases inhibitors used for patients that have BRAFV600E mutation; Ipilimumab (anti-CTLA4), Pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1) and Nivolumab (anti-PD-1), monoclonal antibodies that stimulate the immune system; and Peginterferon alfa-2b, an anti-proliferative cytokine used as adjuvant therapy. In this article, we will review the molecular bases for these new metastatic melanoma therapeutic agents cited above and also analyze new molecular discoveries in melanoma study, as Cancer-Testis antigens (CT). They are capable of induce humoral and cellular immune responses in cancer patients and because of this immunogenicity and their restrict expression in normal tissues, they are considered an ideal candidate for vaccine development against cancer. Among CT antigens, NY-ESO-1 is the best characterized in terms of expression patterns and immunogenicity. It is expressed in 20-40% of all melanomas, more in metastatic lesions than in primary ones, and it is very heterogeneous inter and intratumoral. Breslow index is associate with NY-ESO-1 expression in primary cutaneous melanomas, but its relation to patient survival remains controversial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cyro Festa Neto
- Dermatology Department of Universidade de São Paulo Medical
School (FMUSP) – São Paulo (SP), Brazil
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9
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Oncogenic cancer/testis antigens: prime candidates for immunotherapy. Oncotarget 2016; 6:15772-87. [PMID: 26158218 PMCID: PMC4599236 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent developments have set the stage for immunotherapy as a supplement to conventional cancer treatment. Consequently, a significant effort is required to further improve efficacy and specificity, particularly the identification of optimal therapeutic targets for clinical testing. Cancer/testis antigens are immunogenic, highly cancer-specific, and frequently expressed in various types of cancer, which make them promising candidate targets for cancer immunotherapy, including cancer vaccination and adoptive T-cell transfer with chimeric T-cell receptors. Our current understanding of tumor immunology and immune escape suggests that targeting oncogenic antigens may be beneficial, meaning that identification of cancer/testis antigens with oncogenic properties is of high priority. Recent work from our lab and others provide evidence that many cancer/testis antigens, in fact, have oncogenic functions, including support of growth, survival and metastasis. This novel insight into the function of cancer/testis antigens has the potential to deliver more effective cancer vaccines. Moreover, immune targeting of oncogenic cancer/testis antigens in combination with conventional cytotoxic therapies or novel immunotherapies such as checkpoint blockade or adoptive transfer, represents a highly synergistic approach with the potential to improve patient survival.
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10
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Maheswaran E, Pedersen CB, Ditzel HJ, Gjerstorff MF. Lack of ADAM2, CALR3 and SAGE1 Cancer/Testis Antigen Expression in Lung and Breast Cancer. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134967. [PMID: 26252478 PMCID: PMC4529184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is emerging as a supplement to conventional cancer treatment, and identifying antigen targets for specific types of cancer is critical to optimizing therapeutic efficacy. Cancer/testis antigens are highly promising targets for immunotherapy due to their cancer-specific expression and antigenic properties, but the expression patterns of most of the more than 200 identified cancer/testis antigens in various cancers remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, we investigated the expression of the cancer/testis antigens ADAM2, CALR3 and SAGE1 in lung and breast cancer, the two most frequent human cancers, with the purpose of providing novel therapeutic targets for these diseases. We used a set of previously uncharacterized antibodies against the cancer/testis antigens ADAM2, CALR3 and SAGE1 to investigate their expression in a large panel of normal tissues as well as breast and lung cancers. Staining for the well-characterized MAGE-A proteins was included for comparison. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed previous mRNA analysis demonstrating that ADAM2, CALR3 and SAGE1 proteins are confined to testis in normal individuals. Negative tissues included plancenta, which express many other CT antigens, such as MAGE-A proteins. Surprisingly, we detected no ADAM2, CALR3 and SAGE1 in the 67 lung cancers (mainly non-small lung cancer) and 189 breast cancers, while MAGE-A proteins were present in 15% and 7–16% of these tumor types, respectively. Treatment with DNA methyltransferase inhibitors has been proposed as an attractive strategy to increase the expression of cancer/testis antigens in tumors before immunotargeting; however, neither ADAM2, CALR3 nor SAGE1 could be significantly induced in lung and breast cancer cell lines using this strategy. Our results suggest that ADAM2, CALR3 and SAGE1 cancer/testis antigens are not promising targets for immunotherapy of breast and lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeaga Maheswaran
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine (IMM), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christina B. Pedersen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine (IMM), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Henrik J. Ditzel
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine (IMM), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Morten F. Gjerstorff
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine (IMM), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- * E-mail:
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11
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Esfandiary A, Ghafouri-Fard S. MAGE-A3: an immunogenic target used in clinical practice. Immunotherapy 2015; 7:683-704. [PMID: 26100270 DOI: 10.2217/imt.15.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma antigen family A, 3 (MAGE-A3) is a cancer-testis antigen whose expression has been demonstrated in a wide array of malignancies including melanoma, brain, breast, lung and ovarian cancer. In addition, its ability to elicit spontaneous humoral and cellular immune responses has been shown in cancer patients. As antigen-specific immune responses can be stimulated by immunization with MAGE-A3, several clinical trials have used MAGE-A3 vaccines to observe clinical responses. The frequent expressions of this antigen in various tumors and its immunogenicity in cancer patients have led to application of this antigen in cancer immunotherapy. However, the results of recent clinical trials indicate that there is a need for research in the vaccine design, adjuvant selection as well as patient selection criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Esfandiary
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19857-17443, Iran
| | - Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19857-17443, Iran
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12
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Intratumoral Heterogeneity of MAGE-C1/CT7 and MAGE-C2/CT10 Expression in Mucosal Melanoma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:432479. [PMID: 26161400 PMCID: PMC4486606 DOI: 10.1155/2015/432479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mucosal melanoma is a rare disease, which differs from its cutaneous counterpart genetically and for its clinical behaviour. Moreover this is a heterogeneous disease based on the tissue of origin. As CT7 and CT10 are highly expressed in cutaneous melanoma and are immunogenic in this disease, we analysed their expression throughout the different subtypes of mucosal melanoma and tumor development. We detected a frequent expression of CT7 in primaries and corresponding metastases (55%) as well as for CT10 (30%). This expression resulted to be heterogeneous in the same tumor specimen and moreover influenced by the tissue of origin. Our results support the role of these antigens in immunotherapy for mucosal melanoma.
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13
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Giavina-Bianchi M, Giavina-Bianchi P, Sotto MN, Muzikansky A, Kalil J, Festa-Neto C, Duncan LM. Increased NY-ESO-1 expression and reduced infiltrating CD3+ T cells in cutaneous melanoma. J Immunol Res 2015; 2015:761378. [PMID: 25954764 PMCID: PMC4411457 DOI: 10.1155/2015/761378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Giavina-Bianchi
- Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 255, 3° Andar, 05403-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Pedro Giavina-Bianchi
- 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
| | - Mirian Nacagami Sotto
- Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 255, 3° Andar, 05403-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alona Muzikansky
- MGH Biostatistics Center, 50 Staniford Street, Suite 560, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jorge Kalil
- 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
| | - Cyro Festa-Neto
- Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 255, 3° Andar, 05403-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Lyn M. Duncan
- Dermatopathology Unit, Pathology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Warren Building 825, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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14
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Expression of cancer testis antigens CT10 (MAGE-C2) and GAGE in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Eur J Surg Oncol 2014; 40:1307-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2014.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Revised: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
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15
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Abbas O, Miller DD, Bhawan J. Cutaneous malignant melanoma: update on diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Am J Dermatopathol 2014; 36:363-79. [PMID: 24803061 DOI: 10.1097/dad.0b013e31828a2ec5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma has rapidly increased in recent years in all parts of the world, and melanoma is a leading cause of cancer death. As even relatively small melanomas may have metastatic potential, accurate assessment of progression is critical. Although diagnosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma is usually based on histopathologic criteria, these criteria may at times be inadequate in differentiating melanoma from certain types of benign nevi. As for prognosis, tumor (Breslow) thickness, mitotic rate, and ulceration have been considered the most important prognostic indicators among histopathologic criteria. However, there are cases of thin primary melanomas that have ultimately developed metastases despite complete excision. Given this, an accurate assessment of melanoma progression is critical, and development of molecular biomarkers that identify high-risk melanoma in its early phase is urgently needed. Large-scale genomic profiling has identified considerable heterogeneity in melanoma and suggests subgrouping of tumors by patterns of gene expression and mutation will ultimately be essential to accurate staging. This subgrouping in turn may allow for more targeted therapy. In this review, we aim to provide an update on the most promising new biomarkers that may help in the identification and prognostication of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ossama Abbas
- *Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Dermatology Department, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon; and †Assistant Professor of Dermatology (D.D.M.), Professor of Dermatology and Pathology (J.B.), Dermatopathology Section, Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
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16
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Aung PP, Liu YC, Ballester LY, Robbins PF, Rosenberg SA, Lee CCR. Expression of New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma-1 in primary and metastatic melanoma. Hum Pathol 2013; 45:259-67. [PMID: 24290058 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2013.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2013] [Revised: 05/21/2013] [Accepted: 05/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma-1 (NY-ESO-1), a cancer testis antigen, is an ideal target for adoptive cell transfer immunotherapy. Evidence from several clinical trials in melanoma and other malignancies shows the potential value of targeting the NY-ESO-1 antigen in immune-based therapy of metastatic tumors. However, the incidence of NY-ESO-1 expression in metastatic melanoma is unknown, and thus, it is unclear how many patients might benefit from this therapy. In this study, we analyzed NY-ESO-1 expression in 222 melanoma specimens, including 16 primary and 206 metastatic tumors. Our results support previous findings showing higher expression of NY-ESO-1 in metastatic (58/206; 28.2%) versus primary (0/16) tumors. In addition, our results show that the epithelioid subtype of melanoma has the highest incidence of NY-ESO-1 expression. These findings provide evidence of the value of this specific adoptive cell transfer therapy for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyu P Aung
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yen-Chun Liu
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Leomar Y Ballester
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Paul F Robbins
- Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Steven A Rosenberg
- Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chyi-Chia Richard Lee
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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17
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Germ cell proteins in melanoma: prognosis, diagnosis, treatment, and theories on expression. J Skin Cancer 2012; 2012:621968. [PMID: 23209909 PMCID: PMC3503391 DOI: 10.1155/2012/621968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Germ cell protein expression in melanoma has been shown to correlate with malignancy, severity of disease and to serve as an immunologic target for therapy. However, very little is known about the role that germ cell proteins play in cancer development. Unique germ cell pathways include those involved in immortalization, genetic evolution, and energy metabolism. There is an ever increasing recognition that within tumors there is a subpopulation of cells with stem-cell-like characteristics that play a role in driving tumorgenesis. Stem cell and germ cell biology is intertwined. Given the enormous potential and known expression of germ cell proteins in melanoma, it is possible that they represent a largely untapped resource that may play a fundamental role in tumor development and progression. The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on the current value of germ cell protein expression in melanoma diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy, as well as to review critical germ cell pathways and discuss the potential roles these pathways may play in malignant transformation.
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Expression of MAGE-C1/CT7 and MAGE-C2/CT10 predicts lymph node metastasis in melanoma patients. PLoS One 2011; 6:e21418. [PMID: 21738656 PMCID: PMC3124507 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2010] [Accepted: 06/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
MAGE-C1/CT7 and MAGE-C2/CT10 are members of the large MAGE family of cancer-testis (CT) antigens. CT antigens are promising targets for immunotherapy in cancer because their expression is restricted to cancer and germ line cells and a proportion of cancer patients presents with immune responses against CT antigens, which clearly demonstrates their immunogenicity. This study investigates the expression of MAGE-C1/CT7 and MAGE-C2/CT10 in primary and metastatic melanoma. Immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays that consisted of 59 primary malignant melanomas of the skin, 163 lymph node and distant melanoma metastases and 68 melanoma cell lines was performed. We found MAGE-C1/CT7 expression in 15 out of 50 (24%) primary melanomas and 15 out of 50 (24%) cell lines, whereas MAGE-C2/CT10 was detected in 17 out of 51 (33%) primary melanomas and 14 out of 68 (17%) cell lines. MAGE-C1/CT7 and MAGE-C2/CT10 were both detected in 40% of melanoma metastases. Patients with MAGE-C1/CT7 or MAGE-C2/CT10 positive primary melanoma had significantly more lymph node metastases (p = 0.005 and p<0.001, resp.). Prediction of lymph node metastasis by MAGE-C1/CT7 and MAGE-C2/CT10 was independent of tumor cell proliferation rate (Ki67 labeling index) in a multivariate analysis (p = 0.01). Our results suggest that the expression of MAGE-C1/CT7 and MAGE-C2/CT10 in primary melanoma is a potent predictor of sentinel lymph node metastasis.
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Fine analysis of spontaneous MAGE-C1/CT7-specific immunity in melanoma patients. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:15187-92. [PMID: 20696919 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1002155107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer/testis (CT) antigens represent prime candidates for immunotherapy in cancer patients, because their expression is restricted to cancer cells and germ cells of the testis. MAGE-C1/CT7 is a CT antigen that is highly expressed in several types of cancers. Spontaneous occurrence of CT7-specific antibodies was previously detected by SEREX screen in a melanoma patient. However, naturally occurring CT7-specific T-cell responses have thus far not been detected. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 26 metastatic melanoma patients expressing CT7 in their tumor lesions (CT7(+)) were analyzed for CT7-specific T-cell responses using overlapping peptides. CT7-specific CD4(+) T-cell responses were detected in three patients (11.5%). These CT7-specific CD4(+) T-cell responses were detectable in melanoma patients' PBMCs exclusively from preexisting CD45RA(-) memory CD4(+) T-cell pool. Additional CT7-specific memory CD4(+) T-cell responses were detected in CT7(+) melanoma patients after depletion of CD4(+)CD25high Treg cells showing that Treg cells impact on CT7-specific CD4(+) T cells in melanoma patients. CT7-specific CD4(+) T-cell clones were generated and used to define minimal epitopes, restriction elements, and confirm the recognition of naturally processed antigen. Surprisingly, these clones were able to secrete perforin and exert cytotoxicity. This study shows that CT7 can induce specific cellular immunity in melanoma patients. Based on these findings, CT7 will be further explored as a potential vaccine for melanoma immunotherapy.
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20
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Mollaoglu N, Vairaktaris E, Nkenke E, Neukam FW, Ries J. Single Disseminated Tumor Cell Detection in Peripheral Blood Sample of Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using MAGE-A4: Table 1. Lab Med 2009. [DOI: 10.1309/lm1c9q8drhyeqhks] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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21
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Brewer BG, Mitchell RA, Harandi A, Eaton JW. Embryonic vaccines against cancer: An early history. Exp Mol Pathol 2009; 86:192-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2008.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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22
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Abstract
It is now well established that a subpopulation of tumor stem cells (TSCs) are present within cancer tissues. This suggests that tumors evolve from stem cells; however, the exact cell of tumor origin, the potential role of dedifferentiation, and the role of plasticity in tumor development are largely unknown. A model cancer for the study of the oncologic process is melanoma. The developmental biology of melanocytes is relatively well understood, the cells pigment as they differentiate making them easy to identify, and benign and malignant tumors develop on the skin surface allowing direct observation of growth features, early detection, and removal. This ready access to early-stage tumors will facilitate study of the early oncologic processes and the role of tissue stem cells. Melanomas, like other cancers, include a subpopulation of TSCs. These TSCs have access to embryologic developmental programs, including the capacity to differentiate along multiple cell lineages. For example, melanomas can activate germ-cell pathways with major implications for TSC self-renewal through the activation of telomerase and genomic instability through the collision of meiotic and mitotic pathways (meiomitosis). The TSC model is still evolving, but the existence of TSCs has significant ramifications for tumor development, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of melanoma and other cancers.
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Ohsie SJ, Sarantopoulos GP, Cochran AJ, Binder SW. Immunohistochemical characteristics of melanoma. J Cutan Pathol 2008; 35:433-44. [PMID: 18399807 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2007.00891.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 364] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma has a wide spectrum of histologic features which mimic epithelial, hematologic, mesenchymal, and neural tumors. Immunohistochemistry has been the primary tool to distinguish melanomas from these other tumors; it has also been studied for use as an adjunct to distinguish benign and malignant melanocytic tumors and to elucidate prognosis. Furthermore, there has been extensive effort to find a suitable marker to differentiate spindle cell and desmoplastic melanoma from other tumors. We have reviewed the literature investigating melanocytic differentiation markers, proliferation markers, immunomodulatory markers, signaling molecules, and nerve growth factors and receptors. Despite the proliferation of immunohistochemical markers, S-100 remains the most sensitive marker for melanocytic lesions, while markers such as HMB-45, MART-1/Melan-A, tyrosinase, and MITF demonstrate relatively good specificity but not as good sensitivity as S-100. No marker has proven useful in distinguishing spindle cell and desmoplastic melanomas from other tumors. Ki67 remains the most useful adjunct in distinguishing benign from malignant melanocytic tumors. None of the markers reviewed has been shown conclusively to have prognostic value for melanocytic neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Ohsie
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Geffen/UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1732, USA.
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24
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Abstract
Db−/−xβ2 microglobulin (β2m) null mice transgenic for a chimeric HLA-A2.1/Db-β2m single chain (HHD mice) are an effective biological tool to evaluate the antitumour cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response of known major histocompatibility-restricted peptide tumour-associated antigens, and to screen for putative unknown novel peptides. We utilised HHD lymphocytes to identify immunodominant epitopes of colon carcinoma overexpressed genes. We screened with HHD-derived lymphocytes over 500 HLA-A2.1-restricted peptides derived from colon carcinoma overexpressed genes. This procedure culminated in the identification of seven immunogenic peptides, three of these were derived from the ‘human 1-8D gene from interferon inducible gene’ (1-8D). The 1-8D gene was shown to be overexpressed in fresh tumour samples. The three 1-8D peptides were both antigenic and immunogenic in the HHD mice. The peptides induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes that were able to kill a colon carcinoma cell line HCT/HHD, in vitro and retard its growth in vivo. One of the peptides shared by all the 1-8 gene family primed efficiently normal human cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors. These results highlight the 1-8D gene and its homologues as putative immunodominant tumour-associated antigens of colon carcinoma.
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25
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Muehleisen B, Schaerer L, Dummer R, Burg G, Hofbauer GFL. Cancer/testis antigen MAGE-A4 expression pattern differs in epithelial skin tumors of organ-transplant recipients and immunocompetent patients. J Cutan Pathol 2007; 34:1-6. [PMID: 17214847 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2006.00576.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lifetime risk for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin is 1:30. Risk in organ-transplant recipients (OTR) is increased over 60-fold through long-term drug-induced immunosuppression. MAGE family-derived peptides are cancer/testis antigens recognized by specific CD8(+) T cells and employed for immunotherapy. We were interested in the frequency and distribution of MAGE-A4 in epithelial skin tumors of OTR and immunocompetent patients. METHODS mAb 57B predominantly recognizing MAGE-A4 was used to stain 119 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded epithelial skin tumors (actinic keratosis, bowenoid actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, and SCC; n = 17, 25, 61, 16, respectively) in immunocompetent patients (n = 84) and OTR (n = 35). RESULTS All four epithelial skin tumors showed comparable immunoreactivity ranging from (25-71%, p = 0.361). Scattered immunoexpression pattern was more frequent in OTR (p = 0.025). SCC showed polarized immunoreactivity basally (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION MAGE-A4 was expressed in a large part of epithelial skin tumors with predominantly scattered immunoexpression pattern in OTR. The difference in immunoexpression pattern for immune status was limited, suggesting important non-immunosuppressor-mediated mechanisms for increased skin carcinogenesis in OTR. mAb 57B may be a helpful tool for immunohistochemistry and micrographic surgery using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beda Muehleisen
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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26
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Bazhin AV, Schadendorf D, Willner N, De Smet C, Heinzelmann A, Tikhomirova NK, Umansky V, Philippov PP, Eichmüller SB. Photoreceptor proteins as cancer-retina antigens. Int J Cancer 2007; 120:1268-76. [PMID: 17187367 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Melanocytes, melanoma and photoreceptor cells are of neuroectodermal origin and have a certain sensitivity to light. In this study, we present evidence for photoreceptor proteins that are responsible for visual transduction and its regulation function as a new class of cancer antigens in melanoma. Visual rhodopsin, transducin, cGMP-phosphodiesterase 6, cGMP-dependent channels, guanylyl cyclase, rhodopsin kinase, recoverin and arrestin are expressed in melanoma and can induce antibody responses in patients. Melanocytes also express mRNA of all photoreceptor genes besides transducin, but were devoid of the corresponding protein, which was tested for rhodopsin, cGMP-phosphodiesterase, guanylyl cyclase and recoverin. Furthermore, we show for the first time that some healthy tissues express mRNA of these genes, but never protein. Expression profiles and autoantibody responses were confirmed in the MT/ret and the HGF(tg)/Ink4a(-/-) transgenic mouse melanoma models. We propose a molecular transition of cancer-retina antigens from mRNA expression in melanocytes to protein expression in melanoma. Our work provides the basis for analyzing regulation of photoreceptor gene expression in normal and malignant cells as well as possible therapeutic tumor targeting using the newly defined class of cancer-retina antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandr V Bazhin
- German Cancer Research Center, Skin Cancer Unit (D070), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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27
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Bazhin AV, Wiedemann N, Schnölzer M, Schadendorf D, Eichmüller SB. Expression of GAGE family proteins in malignant melanoma. Cancer Lett 2006; 251:258-67. [PMID: 17194529 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2006.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2006] [Revised: 11/21/2006] [Accepted: 11/22/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Cancer/testis antigens are considered as promising targets for immunotherapy against tumors including malignant melanoma. One group of these antigens is the GAGE antigen family. In this study, we obtained recombinant GAGE-7b protein against which a rabbit antiserum was generated. The polyclonal, monospecific antibodies were used to analyze the expression of GAGE family proteins in human melanoma tissues and cell lines. GAGE expression in melanoma cell lines ranged from 41% to 58% and in melanoma tissues from 22% to 53%. Immunohistochemical analysis of melanoma tumors revealed a rather heterogeneous expression of GAGE resulting in individual positive cells or foci of stained cells. Furthermore, we could show that autoantibodies against GAGE family proteins are detectable in 6% of melanoma patients. Besides, we first demonstrated that the expression of GAGE family proteins can be stimulated with 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A. Through upregulation of protein expression GAGE family proteins might develop into promising targets for immunotherapy of melanoma and other tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandr V Bazhin
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg and University Hospital, Mannheim, Germany
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28
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Heidebrecht HJ, Claviez A, Kruse ML, Pollmann M, Buck F, Harder S, Tiemann M, Dörffel W, Parwaresch R. Characterization and expression of CT45 in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Clin Cancer Res 2006; 12:4804-11. [PMID: 16914565 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-06-0186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The monoclonal antibody Ki-A10 (IgG1) generated after immunization of mice with Hodgkin's lymphoma cell line L428 detects a nuclear antigen in human tissues with a restricted distribution pattern similar to cancer/testis antigens. The aim of this study was to characterize the antigen and to determine the expression profile in Hodgkin's lymphoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The half-life and phosphorylation of the antigen were determined by radiolabeling. The antigen was characterized by immunopurification and sequencing. Demethylation of genes is used to induce cancer/testis antigens. Ki-A10-negative cells were treated with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. The Ki-A10 expression in paraffin-embedded tumors was determined immunohistochemically. RESULTS Immunopurification of the 25/22-kDa antigen and sequencing revealed a peptide of 14 amino acids corresponding to the gene product of the newly described gene family MGC27005, located on chromosome Xq26.3, now termed CT45. CT45 is significantly phosphorylated and down-regulated during mitosis. Demethylation of CT45-negative HeLa cells and stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes induced CT45 expression. Except testis, immunohistochemical stainings of normal tissues, reactive lymphoid lesions, and most malignant tumors were negative. In comparison, 54 of 99 (55%) samples from pediatric and adolescent Hodgkin's lymphoma patients enrolled in the multicenter trial HD-95 stained Ki-A10 positive. Ki-A10 expression correlated with histologic subtypes (nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's lymphoma 68% versus mixed cellularity Hodgkin's lymphoma 40% versus nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma 9%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Ki-A10 is the first monoclonal antibody that detects CT45. As benign lymphoid lesions did not express CT45, the use of Ki-A10 antibody will facilitate the discrimination of Hodgkin's lymphoma from reactive lymphadenopathies.
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Joyner DE, Damron TA, Aboulafia A, Bokor W, Bastar JD, Randall RL. Heterogeneous expression of melanoma antigen (hMAGE) mRNA in mesenchymal neoplasia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 68:19-27. [PMID: 16774536 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2006.00618.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Recommendations have been advanced recently for the use of cancer/testis (CT) immunotherapy against sarcomas. CT antigens are encoded by cancer-germline genes (e.g., hMAGE family) that are expressed in tumors and male germline cells but typically not in normal tissues. At present, little information is available regarding CT expression in mesenchymal neoplasms, and it remains uncertain whether CT immunotherapy will serve as a viable alternative or adjunct to current sarcoma therapies involving resection, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. In this study, hMAGEA2, hMAGEA3, hMAGEA4, and hMAGEC1 mRNA content in 21 benign mesenchymal tumors (representing seven histotypes) and 28 primary sarcomas (10 histotypes) was inventoried using real-time-PCR and then compared against hMAGE mRNA expression in non-sarcomatous malignancies, three cell lines, and muscle. hMAGEA2, hMAGEA3, and hMAGEC1 transcripts were infrequent in mesenchymal tissues in general, whereas hMAGEA4 mRNA was present in 84% of all mesenchymal tumors, 100% of non-sarcomatous tumors, all three cell lines, and in four of five muscle samples. Although hMAGEA4 mRNA was detected in four of five muscle preparations, there was no indication that the mRNA was translated into protein. The presence of hMAGEA4 mRNA in muscle, plus the inconsistent and infrequent occurrence of hMAGEA2, hMAGEA3, and hMAGEC1 mRNA within and among mesenchymal tumor histotypes, makes these four hMAGE antigens unlikely candidates for sarcoma-specific immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D E Joyner
- SARC Laboratory, Sarcoma Services, Huntsman Cancer Institute and Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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30
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Gjerstorff MF, Johansen LE, Nielsen O, Kock K, Ditzel HJ. Restriction of GAGE protein expression to subpopulations of cancer cells is independent of genotype and may limit the use of GAGE proteins as targets for cancer immunotherapy. Br J Cancer 2006; 94:1864-73. [PMID: 16773077 PMCID: PMC2361341 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The GAGE cancer testis antigen gene family encodes products that can be recognized by autologous T cells, and GAGE proteins have been suggested as potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. Analysis of GAGE expression in tumours has primarily been performed at the level of gene transcription, whereas little is known about GAGE expression at the protein level. To evaluate the potential of GAGE proteins as targets for cancer-specific immunotherapy, we studied the expression of these proteins in normal and malignant cells/tissues using a novel panel of monoclonal antibodies. Immunohistochemical analysis of more than 250 cancer specimens demonstrated that GAGE proteins were frequently expressed in numerous cancer types and correlated with the expression of the cancer testis antigens MAGE-A1 and NY-ESO-1. Significant intercellular and subcellular differences in GAGE protein levels were observed, and most GAGE-positive tumours also contained cancer cells lacking GAGE expression. Studies of genetically homogenous cell lines with similar intercellular heterogeneous GAGE expression showed that GAGE expression was not associated with a specific genotype, but defined a phenotypically distinct population of cells. Surprisingly, in normal tissues we found that GAGE proteins were not restricted to testis, but were also present in a subset of oocytes of resting primordial follicles and in maturing oocytes. This is the first time that a cancer testis antigen has been reported in postfoetal oocytes. The lack of GAGE expression in a subset of cancer cells within GAGE-positive tumours has decisive implications for the development of GAGE-targeted cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Gjerstorff
- Medical Biotechnology Center, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Winsloewparken 25, DK-5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - L E Johansen
- Medical Biotechnology Center, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Winsloewparken 25, DK-5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - O Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Odense University Hospital, Winsloewparken 15, DK-5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - K Kock
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Odense University Hospital, Winsloewparken 15, DK-5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - H J Ditzel
- Medical Biotechnology Center, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Winsloewparken 25, DK-5000, Odense, Denmark
- Medical Biotechnology Center, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Winsloewparken 25, 3, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark; E-mail:
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31
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Hussein MR, Elsers DAH, Fadel SA, Omar AEM. Immunohistological characterisation of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes in melanocytic skin lesions. J Clin Pathol 2006; 59:316-24. [PMID: 16505286 PMCID: PMC1860334 DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2005.028860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the presence of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) is a constant feature in melanomas, their immunophenotypic characterisation is still incomplete. We hypothesise that the transition from normal skin to benign naevi (BN) to melanocytic dysplastic naevi (MDN) to radial growth phase cutaneous malignant melanoma (RGP-CMM) to vertical growth phase cutaneous malignant melanoma (VGP-CMM) is associated with alterations in TIL. This study attempted to test this hypothesis and to characterise TIL in the melanocytic skin lesions. METHODS In total, 74 lesions (12 BN, 12 MDN, 13 RGP-CMM, 26 VGP-CMM, and 11 metastatic melanomas) were examined using immunoperoxidase staining methods and antibodies targeting leukocyte common antigen (LCA+), T (CD3+) and B (CD20+) lymphocytes, and resting cytotoxic T cells (TIA-1+). RESULTS Histologically, the transitions from normal skin to BN to MDN to RGP-CMM to VGP-CMM was associated with a gradual increase in the numbers of TIL (total, parenchymal, stromal, perivascular, and epidermal TIL, as well as TIL at the base of the lesions). The numbers of TIL were higher at the stroma than at the parenchyma. Similarly, immunostaining revealed that these transitions were associated with a gradual increase in the staining values (staining intensity, percentage of positive cells, and immunoreactivity score) for LCA+, CD20+, CD3+, and TIA-1+cells. The number of CD3+ cells was higher than that of CD20+ cells. All these differences between the normal skin and the lesional ones reached statistical significance (p<0.01). The majority of CD3+ cells were TIA-1+ T cells with cytotoxic potential. Compared with primary melanomas, there was a decrease in TIL in metastatic melanomas. CONCLUSIONS The gradual increase in TIL during melanoma tumorigenesis may reflect increased antigenicity of the tumour cells. Although both humoral and cell mediated immunity are involved in melanomagenesis, the latter seems to have the major role. The immune profile of MDN suggests their intermediacy between BN and CMM.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Hussein
- Department of Pathology, Assiut University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.
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Cochran AJ, Starz H, Ohsie SJ, Sarantopoulos GP, Haas CJ, Binder S. Pathologic Reporting and Special Diagnostic Techniques for Melanoma. Surg Oncol Clin N Am 2006; 15:231-51. [PMID: 16632213 DOI: 10.1016/j.soc.2005.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Pathologists play a central role in the management of cutaneous melanoma in determining that a tumor is a melanoma, whether or not it is primary or metastatic, and whether or not the margins of excision are tumor free and in evaluating prognostic indicators from examination of the primary tumor and, where appropriate, lymph nodes, including the sentinel nodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair J Cochran
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 LeConte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Harandi A. Immunoplacental therapy, a potential multi-epitope cancer vaccine. Med Hypotheses 2006; 66:1182-7. [PMID: 16439066 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2005.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2005] [Accepted: 12/01/2005] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The field of tumor immunology has made great advancements in recent years. A retrospective analysis of previous vaccine strategies combined with present knowledge may provide additional insight in this treatment modality. This article provides a review of immunoplacental therapy (IPT), a cancer vaccine consisting of chorionic villi extractions from the human placenta after a live full-term delivery. This therapy was first introduced in the 1970s by Valentin I. Govallo, M.D., Ph.D., who noted the immunological similarities between pregnancy and cancer. The goal of cancer immunotherapy, according to Govallo, is to view the fetal allograft as an "impregnating tumor" and create an immunological state in the oncological patient analogous to a spontaneous abortion in a pregnant women. The placenta shares identical growth mechanisms, antigenic determinants, and immune-escape properties with cancer cells; this includes numerous tumor-associated antigens, angiogenic growth factors, complement regulatory proteins, and defective apoptotic mechanisms which aid in their survival. Placental vaccination may function as a multi-epitope vaccine; the body recognizes the placental antigens of this vaccine as foreign, and thus stimulates a cross reactive humoral and cell-mediated immune response targeting cancer tumor-associated antigens as well as proteins that aid in cancer angiogenesis, complement regulation, and apoptotic resistance. With recent advancements in molecular and cellular cancer immunology, the model introduced by Govallo may provide an important strategic approach to cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Harandi
- Department of Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10025, USA.
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