Cancer-testis antigens and immunosurveillance in human cutaneous squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas Journal Article
| Authors: | Walter, A.; Barysch, M. J.; Behnke, S.; Dziunycz, P.; Schmid, B.; Ritter, E.; Gnjatic, S.; Kristiansen, G.; Moch, H.; Knuth, A.; Dummer, R.; Van Den Broek, M. |
| Article Title: | Cancer-testis antigens and immunosurveillance in human cutaneous squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas |
| Abstract: | Purpose: Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most common cancer and comprises basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The incidence of SCC increases drastically in immunosuppressed individuals, suggesting a critical role of the immune system in controlling SCC. To find an explanation for the selective immunosurveillance of SCC, we investigated the expression of cancer-testis (CT) antigens and MHC class I (MHC-I) and the infiltration by immune cells in BCC and SCC. Experimental Design: We determined the expression of 23 different CT-antigens in 63 BCC and 40 SCC biopsies of immunocompetent and in 20 biopsies of immunosuppressed SCC patients by reverse transcription-PCR and immunohistochemistry. IgG responses to 36 tumor antigens were measured by Western blotting and ELISA. MHC-I expression and CD8+ T-cell infiltration were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in BCC and SCC of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients and in imiquimodtreated BCC patients. Results: We found expression of at least one CT-antigen in 81% of BCC and in 40% of SCC. We did not detect CT-antigen - specific serum IgG. Most SCC, but not BCC, expressed MHC-I and were infiltrated with CD8+ cells. Imiquimod-treated BCC expressed MHC-I and were infiltrated by CD8+ T cells. Conclusions: We propose that immunosurveillance controls SCC, but not BCC, because the latter lacks MHC-I. This fits with the increased incidence of SCC in immunosuppressed individuals and may explain the relatively low prevalence of CT-antigen expression in SCC as a result of CD8+ T-cell - driven immunoediting. ©2010 AACR. |
| Keywords: | immunohistochemistry; clinical article; controlled study; human tissue; human cell; squamous cell carcinoma; carcinoma, squamous cell; antigen expression; cd8+ t lymphocyte; cd8-positive t-lymphocytes; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; imiquimod; basal cell carcinoma; skin biopsy; skin neoplasms; tumor cells, cultured; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; skin carcinoma; blotting, western; antigens, neoplasm; immunoglobulin g; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; cancer testis antigen; histocompatibility antigens class i; upregulation; lymphocytic infiltration; immune deficiency; immunosurveillance; humoral immunity; carcinoma, basal cell; monitoring, immunologic; immunocompetence; major histocompatibility antigen class 1; melanoma antigen 4 |
| Journal Title: | Clinical Cancer Research |
| Volume: | 16 |
| Issue: | 14 |
| ISSN: | 1078-0432 |
| Publisher: | American Association for Cancer Research |
| Date Published: | 2010-07-15 |
| Start Page: | 3562 |
| End Page: | 3570 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-09-3136 |
| PUBMED: | 20519358 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Export Date: 20 April 2011" - "CODEN: CCREF" - "Source: Scopus" |
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