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Expression of cancer/testis antigens in cutaneous T cell lymphomas
Andreas C Häffner1, Anatoli Tassis, Karoline Zepter
1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Cancer/testis-antigens (CTA), a novel and expanding family of immunogenic proteins detected by serological screening of recombinant cDNA expression libraries, encompass promising candidate targets for T-cell based immunotherapy. We screened kryo-preserved tissue of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL, n=36) such as mycosis fungoides (MF, n=17), pleomorphic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (n=8) and Sezary's syndrome (SS, n= 11) as well as a non-malignant entity (small plaques parapsoriasis, SPP, n=5), for the expression of CTA by RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization. From a panel of eleven CTA (MAGE-1, MAGE-C1, MAGE-3, BAGE, GAGE, SSX-1, SSX-2, SSX4, SCP-1, NY-ESO-1 and TS85) (HOM-Tes-85), mRNA expression could be detected for SCP-1 in 8/17 MF and 6/8 pleomorphic CTCL patients but was completely absent in small plaques parapsoriasis. SS patients had a more heterogeneous antigen expression pattern: Gage (1/11), MAGE-1 (3/11), MAGE-3 (6/11), MAGE-C1 (5/11), NY-ESO-1 (7/11) and TS85 (5/11), with expression of MAGE-3 confirmed by immunohistochemistry. CTA could provide defined targets for antigen-based vaccination in a high percentage of cases with CTCL. SCP-1 might serve as an additional diagnostic indicator in early and clinically indistinct lesions suspicious for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Insights
Cancer/testis-antigens (CTA) show promise for immunotherapy in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). SCP-1 expression in CTCL may aid early diagnosis of this skin cancer.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Cancer/testis-antigens (CTA) are immunogenic proteins identified as potential targets for T-cell based immunotherapy.
- Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a group of skin cancers with diverse clinical presentations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of eleven CTA in various subtypes of CTCL and a non-malignant skin condition.
- To evaluate the potential of CTA as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets in CTCL.
Main Methods:
- RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization were used to detect CTA mRNA expression in CTCL tissue samples (n=36) and small plaques parapsoriasis (SPP, n=5).
- Immunohistochemistry was employed to confirm the expression of specific antigens, such as MAGE-3.
Main Results:
- SCP-1 mRNA expression was detected in mycosis fungoides (MF) and pleomorphic CTCL, but not in SPP.
- Sezary's syndrome (SS) patients exhibited heterogeneous CTA expression patterns, with NY-ESO-1, MAGE-3, and MAGE-C1 being frequently detected.
- MAGE-3 expression was confirmed by immunohistochemistry in SS patients.
Conclusions:
- CTA expression is prevalent in CTCL, offering defined targets for antigen-based vaccination strategies.
- SCP-1 may serve as a valuable diagnostic marker for early or indistinct CTCL lesions.