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Expression of Fas ligand in retinoblastoma
Author(s) -
Krishnakumar Subramanian,
Kandalam Mallikarjuna,
Mohan Adithi,
Iyer Anita,
Venkatesan Nalini,
Biswas Jyotirmay,
Shanmugam Mahesh Palanivelu
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.20533
Subject(s) - fas ligand , retinoblastoma , medicine , pathology , immunohistochemistry , immune system , cancer , immune escape , cancer research , apoptosis , immunology , biology , gene , programmed cell death , biochemistry
BACKGROUND The importance of the Fas‐Fas ligand (FasL) mechanism for the immune evasion by tumors provided a strong rationale for the examination of FasL expression in retinoblastoma. In an earlier publication, the authors reported that invasive retinoblastomas decreased Fas expression. Because to the authors' knowledge there is not much information regarding the effect of FasL expression on retinoblastoma, the authors studied the expression of FasL in retinoblastoma and correlated it with invasiveness. METHODS Thirty‐six archival retinoblastoma specimens were divided into 2 groups. Group A ( n = 17) was comprised of specimens from tumors with no invasion and Group B ( n = 19) was comprised of specimens from tumors with invasion of the choroid (focal, diffuse), optic nerve (laminar, postlaminar, surgical end), and orbit. Sections were immunostained with a monoclonal antibody to FasL and the immunoreactivity was assessed. RESULTS In Group A, FasL was negative in 100% (17 of 17) of the tumor specimens. In Group B, FasL was expressed in 79% (15 of 19) of the tumor specimens (positive in 9 tumors and heterogeneous in 6 tumors). The difference in FasL expression between the two groups was significant ( P < 0.001) CONCLUSIONS Increased expression of FasL was observed in specimens taken from patients with aggressive tumors. Thus, Loss of Fas and gain of aberrant FasL expression were common features of malignant transformation. The data suggested that the Fas/FasL pathway is potentially immunosuppressive and may be involved in the escape of retinoblastoma cells from immune destruction. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.