The expression of the cancer testis antigen MAGE A4: A favorable prognostic biomarker in salivary gland carcinomas related to low tumor grading

Abstract

BackgroundAim was to analyze the expression of different cancer testis antigens (CTA) and to assess its prognostic value in salivary gland carcinomas.MethodsPatients with salivary gland carcinomas diagnosed 1994 to 2010 were included. Baseline characteristics, pathohistological, clinical, and outcome data were assessed. Tissue microarrays were constructed and immunohistochemistry for different CTA (NY‐ESO1, NY‐BR1, MAGE A1, MAGE A3, MAGE A4, MAGE C1/CT7, and MAGE C2/CT10) was performed. CTA expression was assessed and statistically correlated with pathological and outcome data.ResultsExpression rates of CTA in salivary gland tumors ranged from 0% to 40%. MAGE A4 expression was associated with a lower tumor grade tumor grading (P = .017), and a favorable recurrence‐free (P = .003), disease‐specific (P = .046) and overall survival (P = .028).ConclusionsMAGE A4 is a highly significant prognostic marker in salivary gland carcinoma; its expression is associated with low‐grade histology, a low rate of distant metastasis and a favorable survival.Level of Evidence4

Expression of cancer testis antigens in thymic epithelial tumors

“…They argued that the positive prognostic effects of MAGE-A4 were attributable to the possible hypothesis that MAGE-A4 induced apoptosis and inactivated the oncoprotein gankyrin. [35][36][37] We confirmed that the MAGE-A expression was correlated with PD-L1 expression in TILs in thymic SqCC (P = 0.0115), but not with PD-L1 expression in tumor cells nor CD4/CD8 expression in TILs. Owing to the small number of MAGE-A-positive type B3 thymomas (n = 2, Table 1), a statistical comparison was not made between MAGE-A expression of type B3 thymoma and the PD-L1 expression in TILs of type B3 thymoma.…”

“…Although most previous studies have reported an association between the CTA expression and a poor outcome, only a few have described the correlation between the antigen expression and favorable outcomes. [32][33][34][35] Vital et al reported that the MAGE-A4 expression in salivary gland carcinoma was associated with a low-grade histology and a favorable outcome. They argued that the positive prognostic effects of MAGE-A4 were attributable to the possible hypothesis that MAGE-A4 induced apoptosis and inactivated the oncoprotein gankyrin.…”

“…To clarify prognostic significance of MAGE‐A in thymic SqCCs and type B2/B3 thymomas, a large‐scale validation will be needed. Although most previous studies have reported an association between the CTA expression and a poor outcome, only a few have described the correlation between the antigen expression and favorable outcomes 32–35 . Vital et al .…”

The expression of PD-L1 in salivary gland carcinomas

“…Patient with salivary gland carcinomas, who underwent treatment between January 1 st , 1994 and December 31 st , 2010 (17 years) were eligible to be included in this study. The same cohort was used in a previous study focusing on the expression of cancer testis antigens in salivary gland carcinomas 15 . Patients with incomplete data sets or insufficient tissue quality or quantity were excluded.…”

“…To perform immunohistochemistry, sections of a tissue microarray (TMA), which has been previously described, were used 15 . Briefly, two core biopsies (diameter, 0.6 mm; length, 3–4 mm) from a morphologically representative area of interest of the paraffin ‘donor’ blocks were precisely arrayed into a new ‘recipient’ paraffin block using a stereomicroscope and the Beecher TMA instrument (Beecher Instruments, Sun Prairie, WI) 18 .…”