RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Expression of MAGE-A Cancer/Testis Antigens in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 2281
OP 2287
VO 26
IS 3B
A1 HAIER, J.
A1 OWZCARECK, M.
A1 GULLER, U.
A1 SPAGNOLI, G. C.
A1 BÜRGER, H.
A1 SENNINGER, N.
A1 KOCHER, TH.
YR 2006
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/26/3B/2281.abstract
AB Background: Although the diagnosis and therapy of esophageal cancer have improved over the past decade, the prognosis remains dismal. Since MAGE-A cancer/testis antigens (CTA) are potential targets for immunotherapy, this study was aimed at evaluating their expression in these patients and its prognostic value. Materials and Methods: Using 57B monoclonal antibody, MAGE-A CTA expression was analyzed in paraffin-embedded tumor specimens of 98 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinomas who had undergone surgical resection. For all patients, a postoperative follow-up of at least 4 years was available. The expression was quantified using a scoring system considering intensity and homogeneity of the immunostaining. The prognostic relevance of MAGE-A expression was analyzed in univariate analyses as well as Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Results: 57B positivity could be detected in 38 tumors (38.8%). Positive staining was observed in five out of 32 adenocarcinomas (15.2%) and in 33 out of 66 (50%) squamous cell carcinomas. MAGE-A expression did not correlate with the TNM classification, grading or age of the patients. Both univariate (p=0.88) and multivariate analyses (p=0.82) revealed that MAGE-A expression lacked prognostic significance in esophageal carcinomas. Conclusion: MAGE-A was expressed in half of the squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus, but rarely in adenocarcinomas. Although its immunodetection was insufficient for prognostic evaluation, the high expression rate suggests MAGE-A as a potential target for immunotherapy in the first group with the ability for pretherapeutic testing. Copyright© 2006 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved