Immunohystochemical Expression of Cancer/Testis Antigens (MAGE-A3/4, NY-ESO-1) in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: The Relationship with Clinical-Pathological Features
The aim of this study was to explore the expression of cancer/testis tumor associated antigens (C/T TAAs) MAGE-A
3/4 and NY-ESO-1 in lung squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, and to evaluate their association with the
standard clinical-pathological features of surgically treated lung cancer patients. The study included 80 patients with
non-small cell lung cancer (40 adenocarcinomas, 40 squamous cell carcinomas) who had undergone surgery in the period
between 2002 and 2005. The MAGE-A3/4 and NY-ESO-1 antigen expression was analyzed immunohistochemically
(IHC). The results showed MAGE-A3/4 and NY-ESO-1 positive staining in 65.1% and 23.3% of squamous cell carcinomas
and 18.9% and 10.8% of adenocarcinomas, respectively. A statistically higher MAGE-A3/4 expression was observed
in planocellular bronchial carcinoma (p<0.001), while no difference was found in the expression of NY-ESO-1 in adenocarcinoma
and planocellular carcinoma (p=0.144). A significant association was found between the MAGE-A3/4 expression
and presence of tumor necrosis in squamous cell cancer specimens (p=0.001), but not in adenocarcinoma (p=0.033).
A statistically significant association was noted between the NY-ESO-1 expression and positive hilar and mediastinal
lymph nodes in adenocarcinoma (p=0.025) whereas it was not the case in squamous cell carcinoma. Non-small cell lung
cancer frequently expresses cancer/testis tumor associated antigens. Our results demonstrate that the MAGE-A3/4 and
NY-ESO-1 expression was significant associated with prognostic factors of poor outcome of disease (presence of tumor
necrosis and lymph node metastasis). As C/T antigens are important for inducing a specific immune reaction in lung
cancer patients, there is an intention to form a subgroup of patients in the future, whose treatment would be enhanced by
specific immunotherapy based on the observed scientific results
