Expression and clinical significance of MAGE and NY-ESO-1 cancer-testis antigens in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck

Abstract

Background Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck (ACC) is a rare but highly malignant tumor. Cancer testis antigens (CTA) represent an immunogenic family of cancer-specific proteins and thus represent an attractive target for immunotherapy. Methods Eighty-four cases of ACC were identified, the CTAs pan-MAGE (M3H67) and NY-ESO-1 (E978) were detected immunohistochemically and correlated with clinical data. Results Expression of NY-ESO-1 was found in 48/84 (57.1%) and of pan-MAGE in 28/84 (31.2%). Median OS in NY-ESO-1 positive vs. negative patients was 130.8 and 282.0 months (p=0.223), respectively. OS in pan-MAGE positive vs. negative patients was 105.3 and 190.5 months, respectively (p=0.096). Patients expressing both, NY-ESO-1 and pan-MAGE simultaneously had significantly reduced OS with a median of 90.5 months compared to 282.0 months in negative patients (p=0.047). Conclusions A significant fraction of ACC patients show expression of the cancer testis antigens NY-ESO-1 and/or Pan-MAGE with promising immunotherapeutic implications.

Expression of cancer/testis antigens in salivary gland carcinomas with reference to MAGE‐A and NY‐ESO‐1 expression in adenoid cystic carcinoma

“…Veit et al . recently reported that immunohistochemistry showed the expression of pan‐MAGE and NY‐ESO‐1 in 31.2% and 57.1% of AdCC cases, respectively.…”

“…To define immunohistochemical positivity, they considered both positive tumour cell ratios and signal intensities. Finally, they included many advanced AdCC cases, and more than half of the analysed AdCC cases had T3/4 tumours . In contrast, we used a commercially available anti‐MAGE‐A antibody (6C1) that recognizes MAGE‐A1, MAGE‐A2, MAGE‐A3, MAGE‐A4, MAGE‐A6, MAGE‐A10, and MAGE‐A12.…”

“…The study failed to show any prognostic impacts of pan-MAGE and NY-ESO-1 expression individually, but showed that the simultaneous expression of these two antigens was associated with reduced overall survival. 31 Although our study and the study by Veit et al suggest that both CTAs are associated with adverse clinicopathological features of AdCC, there are some differences between the two studies regarding the expression of MAGE and NY-ESO-1 and their prognostic significance, as discussed above. The differences are difficult to explain, but we speculate that the following factors may have affected the results: (i) the antibodies used; (ii) the criteria used for immunohistochemical positivity; and (iii) the profiles of the AdCC patients analysed.…”

“…29 Similar antiapoptotic properties have also been reported for GAGE-7. 30 Veit et al 31 recently reported that immunohistochemistry showed the expression of pan-MAGE and NY-ESO-1 in 31.2% and 57.1% of AdCC cases, respectively. These two CTAs were, respectively, associated with positive lymph nodes and primary sites other than major salivary glands.…”

“…These two CTAs were, respectively, associated with positive lymph nodes and primary sites other than major salivary glands. The study failed to show any prognostic impacts of pan‐MAGE and NY‐ESO‐1 expression individually, but showed that the simultaneous expression of these two antigens was associated with reduced overall survival . Although our study and the study by Veit et al .…”