Enhanced immune responses are accompanied by increased MAGEA expression in osteosarcoma metastases

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone sarcoma. About 50% of patients develop metastatic disease and their 5-year survival lingers at around 20%-30%. T cell checkpoint blockade immunotherapies have revolutionised cancer treatment in the last decade, but their impact remains limited in osteosarcoma.

In order to reveal potentially novel immunotherapeutic strategies for advanced osteosarcoma, we conducted an immunogenomic characterisation of a unique sample set comprising 30 osteosarcoma samples from seven patients, collected throughout disease progression. We performed RNA-sequencing and imaging mass cytometry analysis on these samples to reveal the immunological landscape during osteosarcoma progression.

Transcriptional and phenotypical hallmarks of cytotoxic T cell-driven anticancer immunity were enriched in metastatic lesions as compared with primary tumours. Spatial analysis showed T cells infiltrating central regions of osteosarcoma metastases, indicating the absence of an immune excluded environment. In parallel, we found a pronounced increase in the expression of cancer testis antigens, particularly melanoma antigen family A (MAGEA)-related antigens, in osteosarcoma metastases, which was validated in an independent cohort (N=91). In addition, we demonstrated the presentation of MAGE-derived peptides in three out of four osteosarcoma cell lines.

These findings indicate a concurrent augmentation of cytotoxic antitumour immune responses and expression of MAGEA antigens from primary to metastatic osteosarcoma. This observation suggests the exploration of MAGEA antigens as potential targets for immunotherapy in the treatment of advanced osteosarcoma.