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Cancer testis antigen expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: New markers for early recurrence
Author(s) -
Perez Daniel,
Herrmann Thomas,
Jungbluth Achim A.,
Samartzis Pierre,
Spagnoli Giulio,
Demartines Nicolas,
Clavien PierreAlain,
Marino Silvia,
Seifert Burkhardt,
Jaeger Dirk
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.23698
Subject(s) - gist , immunohistochemistry , medicine , stromal tumor , antigen , stromal cell , cancer , population , oncology , pathology , immunology , environmental health
Abstract Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are expressed in a variety of malignant tumors but not in any normal adult tissues except germ cells and occasionally placenta. Because of this tumor‐associated pattern of expression, CTAs are regarded as potential vaccine targets. The expression of CTAs in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) has not been analyzed systematically previously. The present study was performed to analyze the expression of CTA in GIST and to determine if CTA expression correlates with prognosis. Thirty‐five GIST patients were retrospectively analyzed for their expression of CTAs by immunohistochemistry using the followingmonoclonal antibodies (mAb/antigen): MA454/MAGE‐A1, M3H67/MAGE‐A3, 57B/MAGE‐A4, CT7‐33/MAGE‐C1 and E978/NY‐ESO‐1. Fourteen tumors (40%) expressed 1 or more of the 5 CTAs tested. Fourteen percent ( n = 5/35) were positive for MAGE‐A1, MAGE‐A3 or MAGE‐A4, respectively. Twenty‐six percent ( n = 9/35) stained positive for MAGE‐C1 and 20% ( n = 7/35) for NY‐ESO‐1. A highly significant correlation between CTA expression and tumor recurrence risk was observed (71% vs . 29%; p = 0.027). In our study population, the high‐risk GIST expressed CTAs more frequently than low‐risk GIST ( p = 0.012). High‐risk GISTs which stained positive for at least 1 CTA, recurred in 100% ( n = 25) of the cases. This is the first study analyzing CTA expression in GIST and its prognostic value for recurrence. The CTA staining could add information to the individual patient prognosis and represent an interesting target for future treatment strategies. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.