Is microsatellite instability a negative prognostic factor in early stage endometrial cancer patients?

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e17107-e17107
Author(s):  
Sahin Lacin ◽  
Gozde Elif Tasar ◽  
Alp Usubutun ◽  
Zafer Arik ◽  
Yusuf Karakas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endometrial Cancer ◽  
Microsatellite Instability ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Menopausal Status ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Biological Behaviour ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Early Stage Disease

e17107 Background: Endometrial cancer(EC) is a heterogeneous disease with diverse histological features and biological behaviour. Microsatellite instability (MSI) which occurs in cancerous tissue secondary to mismatch repair (MMR) defect of hereditary or somatic origin is a well-known feature further diversifying genetic tumor landscape. In this study, we aim to investigate the relationship between MSI and prognosis in patients with early stage EC. Methods: The patients diagnosed with EC between 2004 and 2017 were retrospectively analysed in the study. The demographic characteristics, disease stage, menopausal status, and clinical and laboratory values were noted. MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 antibodies were used to detect microsatellite status within the tumor tissue samples. Results: The mean age of the 93 patients and menopause was 60.6 ± 9.8 and 49.68 ± 4.5 years , respectively. The median follow-up period was 28 (1-110) months. At the time of diagnosis, number of the patients with stage IA, IB, II, III, and IV were 5, 64, 8, 14, and 2, respectively. Forty three patients were grad 1, 23 patients grad 2, and 27 patients were grade 3. In terms of microsatellite status, 59 patients (63.4%) were microsatellite stable (MSS) and 34 patients (36.6%) were microsatellite instable(MSI). There was no significant association between MSI and tumor stage or grade (X2 = 1.97 p = 0.74 and X2= 3.2, p = 0.19, respectively). There was a significant relationship between peritumoral lymphocyte infiltration rate (pTIL) and MSI. PTIL ratio was higher in tumoral tissues with MSI, whereas pTIL was low in MSS tumor tissues (X2= 28.6, p < 0.0001). Patients with MSI tended to have poorer survival than patients with MSS irrespective of disease stage; mOS rates were 76 and 91 months, respectively (p = 0.086). However, patients with early stage disease and MSI had significantly poorer survial in comparison to patients with similar disease stage and MSS: Overall survival rates for patients with MSI and MSS were 75.8 and 94.7 months, respectively (Log-rank p = 0.048). Conclusions: There is a limited number of studies assessing the association between MSI and clinical outcomes in EC. Our study hints at the presence of potential relationship between MSI and pognosis in patients with MSI. Similar to previous studies performed with various types of tumors we found that EC with MSI attract more immune cells to tumor microenvironments. Interestingly, patients with MSI tended to have poorer prognosis despite augmented immune-cell inftration.

Residual ctDNA after treatment predicts early relapse in patients with early-stage NSCLC.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8517-8517
Author(s):  
Davina Gale ◽  
Katrin Heider ◽  
Malcolm Perry ◽  
Giovanni Marsico ◽  
Andrea Ruiz-Valdepeñas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Deep Sequencing ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Analytical Sensitivity ◽  
Disease Relapse ◽  
Clinical Progression ◽  
Liquid Biopsies ◽  
Early Stage Disease

8517 Background: Liquid biopsies based on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis are being investigated for detection of residual disease and recurrence. Conclusive evidence for utility of ctDNA in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is awaited. Due to low ctDNA levels in early-stage disease or post-treatment, effective methods require high analytical sensitivity to detect mutant allele fractions (MAF) below 0.01%. Methods: We analysed 363 plasma samples from 88 patients with NSCLC recruited to the LUng cancer CIrculating tumour DNA (LUCID) study, with disease stage I (49%), II (28%) and III (23%). 62% were adenocarcinomas. Plasma was collected before and after treatment, and at 3, 6 and 9 months after surgery (N = 69) or chemoradiotherapy (N = 19). Additional plasma was collected at disease relapse for 17 patients. Median follow-up was 3 years, and 40 patients progressed or died of any cause. We employed the RaDaR™ assay, a highly sensitive personalized assay using deep sequencing of up to 48 tumor-specific variants. Variants identified by tumor exome analysis were tested by deep sequencing of tumor tissue and buffy coat DNA to verify somatic mutations and exclude clonal hematopoiesis. The RaDaR assay demonstrated 90% sensitivity at 0.001% MAF in analytical validation studies. Results: ctDNA was detected in 26% of samples, at median MAF of 0.047% (range: 0.0007% to > 2%), and prior to treatment in 87%, 77% and 24% for disease stage III, II and I respectively. For 62 patients, plasma was collected at a landmark timepoint, between 2 weeks and 4 months after initial treatment. ctDNA detection at the landmark timepoint was strongly predictive of clinical disease relapse, with Hazard Ratio of 20.7 (CI: 7.7-55.5, p-value < 0.0001). All 11 cases with ctDNA detected at landmark had disease progression, a median of 121 days after detection, and these included all 8 patients that relapsed within 300 days of treatment. Across 27 patients whose disease progressed during the study, ctDNA was detected at any timepoint post-treatment in 17 cases, with a median lead time of 203 days, and up to 741 days prior to clinical progression. ctDNA was detected post-treatment, in 13 of the 15 patients that progressed and had ctDNA detected prior to treatment. Conclusions: Our results support an emerging paradigm shift, by demonstrating that liquid biopsies can reliably detect recurrence of NSCLC at a preclinical stage, many months before clinical progression, thereby offering the opportunity for earlier therapeutic intervention. Clinical trial information: NCT04153526.

Microsatellite instability evaluation: which test to use for endometrial cancer?

2021 ◽  
pp. jclinpath-2021-207723
Author(s):  
Paola Rafaniello-Raviele ◽  
Ilaria Betella ◽  
Alessandra Rappa ◽  
Davide Vacirca ◽  
Gianluca Tolva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endometrial Cancer ◽  
Microsatellite Instability ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Valuable Alternative ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded ◽  
Formalin Fixed ◽  
Mmr Proteins

AimsAnalysis of microsatellite instability (MSI) is strongly recommended in endometrial cancer (EC) and colorectal cancer to screen for Lynch syndrome, to predict prognosis and to determine optimal treatment and follow-up. In a large monoinstitutional series of ECs, we evaluated the reliability and accuracy of Idylla assay, a rapid, fully automated system to detect MSI, and we compared its performance with two routine reference methods.MethodsWe evaluated MSI status in 174 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded EC tissue samples using immunohistochemistry (IHC) for mismatch repair (MMR) proteins and Idylla assay. Samples with discordant or equivocal results were analysed with a third technique, the Promega MSI kit.ResultsIdylla MSI assay and IHC were highly concordant (overall agreement: 154/170=90.59%, 95% CI 85.26% to 94.12%). However, in four samples, MMR-IHC staining was equivocal; moreover, 16 cases showed discordant results, that is, MMR deficient using IHC and microsatellite stable using Idylla. These 20 samples were reanalysed using the MSI-Promega kit, which showed the same results of Idylla assay in 18/20 cases (overall agreement: 90%, 95% CI 69.90% to 97.21%).ConclusionsOur results suggest that IHC is an efficient method to determine MMR status in ECs. However, the Idylla MSI assay is a rapid and reliable tool to define MSI status, and it could represent a valuable alternative to conventional MSI-PCR methods.

The effects of season and devil facial tumour disease on the reproductive physiology of the male Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 999 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Keeley ◽  
P. D. McGreevy ◽  
J. K. O'Brien
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Serum Cortisol ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Early Stage Disease ◽  
Devil Facial Tumour Disease ◽  
Disease Free

Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is the cause of the rapid decline of wild Tasmanian devils. Female devils are seasonal breeders with births peaking during autumn (i.e. March) but the degree of reproductive seasonality in male devils is unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the potential effects of season and DFTD on reproductive function in male devils (n = 55). Testicular (1.90 ± 0.23 g) and epididymal (0.90 ± 0.06 g) weights were maximal during autumn and spring (P < 0.05), whereas prostate (3.71 ± 0.74 g) and Cowper’s gland (0.68 ± 0.22; 0.52 ± 0.21 g) weights peaked during autumn (P < 0.001). The motility of spermatozoa from the cauda epididymides extracted post-mortem was similar (P > 0.05) across season and disease state (31.5 ± 13.1% total motility). Testicular and epididymal weights were no different between animals displaying late or early-stage DTFD signs or disease-free animals (P > 0.1). The accessory sex glands were larger in late-stage DFTD animals than in animals with early-stage disease signs or which were disease-free (P < 0.01) but effects of season on this result can’t be excluded. Serum testosterone concentrations peaked during summer (0.25 ± 0.18 ng mL–1) but values were not different from the preceding and subsequent seasons (P > 0.05), nor influenced by disease stage (P > 0.1). Seasonal and DFTD-related changes in serum cortisol concentrations were not evident (P > 0.1). Male devil reproduction does not appear to be restricted by season nor inhibited by DFTD.

scholarly journals International Study of Primary Mucinous Ovarian Carcinomas Managed at Tertiary Medical Centers

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 915-924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Mueller ◽  
Henrik Lajer ◽  
Berit Jul Mosgaard ◽  
Slim Bach Hamba ◽  
Philippe Morice ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Stage I ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Oncologic Outcomes ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Ovarian Carcinomas ◽  
Early Stage Disease ◽  
Medical Centers

ObjectiveWe sought to describe a large, international cohort of patients diagnosed with primary mucinous ovarian carcinoma (PMOC) across 3 tertiary medical centers to evaluate differences in patient characteristics, surgical/adjuvant treatment strategies, and oncologic outcomes.MethodsThis was a retrospective review spanning 1976–2014. All tumors were centrally reviewed by an expert gynecologic pathologist. Each center used a combination of clinical and histologic criteria to confirm a PMOC diagnosis. Data were abstracted from medical records, and a deidentified dataset was compiled and processed at a single institution. Appropriate statistical tests were performed.ResultsTwo hundred twenty-two patients with PMOC were identified; all had undergone primary surgery. Disease stage distribution was as follows: stage I, 163 patients (74%); stage II, 8 (4%); stage III, 40 (18%); and stage IV, 10 (5%). Ninety-nine (45%) of 219 patients underwent lymphadenectomy; 41 (19%) of 215 underwent fertility-preserving surgery. Of the 145 patients (65%) with available treatment data, 68 (47%) had received chemotherapy—55 (81%) a gynecologic regimen and 13 (19%) a gastrointestinal regimen. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 80% (95% confidence interval [CI], 73%–85%) for patients with stage I to II disease and 17% (95% CI, 8%–29%) for those with stage III to IV disease. The 5-year PFS rate was 73% (95% CI, 50%–86%) for patients who underwent fertility-preserving surgery.ConclusionsMost patients (74%) presented with stage I disease. Nearly 50% were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy using various regimens across institutions. The PFS outcomes were favorable for those with early-stage disease and lower but acceptable for those who underwent fertility preservation.

Radiation Therapy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tonsillar Region: A Preferred Alternative to Surgery?

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 2219-2225 ◽  
Author(s):  
William M. Mendenhall ◽  
Robert J. Amdur ◽  
Scott P. Stringer ◽  
Douglas B. Villaret ◽  
Nicholas J. Cassisi
Keyword(s):  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Neck Dissection ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Tumor Stage ◽  
Late Complications ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Fractionation Schedule ◽  
Cause Specific Survival

PURPOSE: There are no definitive randomized studies that compare radiotherapy (RT) with surgery for tonsillar cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of RT alone and RT combined with a planned neck dissection for carcinoma of the tonsillar area and to compare these data with the results of treatment with primary surgery.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four hundred patients were treated between October 1964 and December 1997 and observed for at least 2 years. One hundred forty-one patients underwent planned neck dissection, and 18 patients received induction (17 patients) or concomitant (one patient) chemotherapy.RESULTS: Five-year local control rates, by tumor stage, were as follows: T1, 83%; T2, 81%; T3, 74%; and T4, 60%. Multivariate analysis revealed that local control was significantly influenced by tumor stage (P = .0001), fractionation schedule (P = .0038), and external beam dose (P = .0227). Local control after RT for early-stage cancers was higher for tonsillar fossa/posterior pillar cancers than for those arising from the anterior tonsillar pillar. Five-year cause-specific survival rates, by disease stage, were as follows: I, 100%; II, 86%; III, 82%; IVa, 63%; and IVb, 22%. Multivariate analysis revealed that cause-specific survival was significantly influenced by overall stage (P = .0001), planned neck dissection (P = .0074), and histologic differentiation (P = .0307). The incidence of severe late complications after treatment was 5%.CONCLUSION: RT alone or combined with a planned neck dissection provides cure rates that are as good as those after surgery and is associated with a lower rate of severe complications.

Undifferentiated endometrial carcinoma: a National Cancer Database analysis of prognostic factors and treatment outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1126-1133
Author(s):  
Mariam AlHilli ◽  
Paul Elson ◽  
Lisa Rybicki ◽  
Sudha Amarnath ◽  
Bin Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endometrial Cancer ◽  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Adjuvant Therapy ◽  
Endometrial Carcinoma ◽  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Survival Data ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
National Cancer Database ◽  
Early Stage Disease ◽  
Prognostic Groups

BackgroundUndifferentiated endometrioid endometrial carcinoma of the uterus is a rare, highly aggressive, and under-recognized subtype of endometrial cancer.ObjectiveThis study evaluates survival, prognostic factors for survival, and treatment outcomes associated with undifferentiated endometrial cancer.MethodsThe National Cancer Database was queried to identify patients with undifferentiated endometrial cancer who underwent definitive primary surgical treatment. Patients with all other histologic subtypes or incomplete treatment data were excluded. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to determine independent prognostic factors for survival. Points for each prognostic factor were assigned from regression coefficients in the final multivariable model and summed for a total score. Recursive partitioning analysis was used to determine cut-offs in the score to identify unique prognostic groups.ResultsAmong 349 404 women diagnosed with endometrial cancer from 2004 to 2013, 3994 (1.1%) met the criteria for diagnosis of undifferentiated endometrial cancer and 3486 had survival data. Median age at diagnosis was 65 years (interquartile range (IQR) 57–74) and 58% of patients had early stage disease. Median interval from diagnosis to surgery was 3.7 weeks (IQR 2.0–5.7). Five year overall survival was 57% (standard error (SE) 1%). Stage was the strongest predictor of survival, with a 15–20% decrement in 5 year survival for each advance in stage. Stage, age, race, and presence of comorbidities were independent predictors of survival and were used to categorize patients into five prognostic groups. Adjuvant therapy was associated with improved survival across most disease stages and prognostic groups. Multimodal adjuvant therapy was superior to unimodal treatment particularly in advanced stage unfavorable and very unfavorable groups.ConclusionIn women with undifferentiated endometrial cancer, survival is primarily driven by stage. Despite the poor overall prognosis of undifferentiated endometrial cancer, multimodal adjuvant therapy is a key component of treatment.

scholarly journals Are omentectomy and lymphadenectomy necessary in patients with apparently early-stage malignant ovarian germ cell tumors?

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 398-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beijiao Qin ◽  
Wenyan Xu ◽  
Yanfang Li
Keyword(s):  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Germ Cell ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Germ Cell Tumors ◽  
Yolk Sac ◽  
Immature Teratoma ◽  
Yolk Sac Tumor ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Early Stage Disease

ObjectiveTo evaluate the role of omentectomy and lymphadenectomy in the treatment of clinically apparent early-stage malignant ovarian germ cell tumors.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 245 patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (yolk sac tumor, dysgerminoma, and immature teratoma) and with clinically early-stage disease, who were treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 2017. The survival of patients who underwent either omentectomy or lymphadenectomy, or both (omentectomy/lymphadenectomy group) was compared with that of patients who did not undergo omentectomy or lymphadenectomy (non-omentectomy/lymphadenectomy group).ResultsSixty patients were diagnosed with yolk sac tumor, 74 with dysgerminoma, and 111 with immature teratoma. Of these 245 patients, 216 patients had stage I disease, 28 patients had stage II, and 1 patient had stage IIIA. There were 190 patients who underwent omentectomy and/or lymphadenectomy and 55 patients in the non-omentectomy/lymphadenectomy group, respectively. In the omentectomy/lymphadenectomy group, 112 patients underwent both omentectomy and lymphadenectomy, 71 underwent omentectomy only, and 7 underwent lymphadenectomy only. Two hundred and fourteen of 245 patients (87.3%) received post-operative chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 73 months (range 1–388). The 10-year overall survival rates in the omentectomy/lymphadenectomy group and non-omentectomy/lymphadenectomy groups were 96.8% and 100%, respectively (p=0.340). Multivariate analysis evaluating all potential prognostic factors showed that omentectomy and lymphadenectomy are not prognostic factors for survival.ConclusionsOmentectomy and lymphadenectomy do not appear to improve survival and may be omitted in patients with clinically apparent early-stage malignant ovarian germ cell tumors.

Prognostic utility of circulating transforming growth factor beta 1 in breast cancer patients

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heena Dave ◽  
Manoj Shah ◽  
Sunil Trivedi ◽  
Shilin Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Menopausal Status ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Early Stage Disease ◽  
Unique Challenge ◽  
Tgf Β1

Transforming growth factor betas (TGF-βs) are multifunctional cytokines with a biphasic role in breast tumorigenesis, acting as tumor suppressors at early stages while stimulating tumor progression at later stages (TGF-β switch). Among the 3 human isoforms, TGF-β1 is known to be overexpressed in several tumor types including breast tumors. TGF-β signaling and “crosstalk” in the tumor microenvironment presents a unique challenge and an opportunity to develop novel therapies. We assessed circulating TGF-β1 levels by ELISA in blood samples from 117 previously untreated breast cancer patients in this prospective study to explore the TGF-β switch at the forefront. The levels were correlated with clinicopathological prognosticators like age, menopausal status, nodal status, histological type, histological grade, necrosis, stromal involvement, and survival. Higher mean preoperative serum TGF-β1 was observed in early-stage patients than controls (p=0.05) as revealed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Elevation of TGF-β1 was evident in patients with advanced-stage breast cancer compared with those having early-stage disease (p=0.0001). Prognosticators of an aggressive phenotype were associated with higher TGF-β1 levels, and higher levels thus announced the likelihood of relapse, marking the role of TGF-β1 as a tumor promoter and evidencing the existence of a TGF-β switch. Moreover, higher levels of TGF-β1 shortened the overall survival in breast cancer patients (p=0.010). The results indicate that circulating TGF-β1 may be used as a predictive and prognostic marker in breast carcinoma.

scholarly journals Lung Cancer in Homeless People: Clinical Outcomes and Cost Analysis in a Single Institute

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koung Jin Suh ◽  
Ki Hwan Kim ◽  
Jin Lim ◽  
Jin Hyun Park ◽  
Jin-Soo Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Curative Surgery ◽  
Early Stage Disease ◽  
Outpatient Visits

Introduction. To characterize the demographic and clinical features, outcomes, and treatment costs of lung cancer in homeless people. Methods. Medical records of 22 homeless patients with lung cancer at Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea, were retrospectively analyzed. Results. All patients were men (median age, 62 years). Most patients (78%) had advanced disease (stage IIIB, n=2; stage IV, n=15). Seven died during initial hospitalization (median survival, 1.5 months). Six were lost to follow-up after initial outpatient visits or discharges from initial admission (median follow-up, 13 days). Only 4 received appropriate treatment for their disease and survived for 1, 15, 19, and 28 months, respectively. Conversely, 4 of 5 patients with early stage disease (stage I, n=4; stage IIA, n=1) received curative surgery (median follow-up 25.5 months). The median treatment cost based on 29 days of hospitalization and 2 outpatient visits was $12,513, constituting 47.3% of the 2013 per capita income. Inpatient treatment accounted for 90% of the total costs. The National Health Insurance Service paid 82% of the costs. Conclusion. Among the homeless, lung cancer seems to be associated with poor prognosis and substantial costs during a relatively short follow-up and survival period.

Expression of the Cancer-Testis Antigens, SEMG 1 and Protamine 1, in Early CLL: Their Relationship to Disease Stage and Zap 70 Expression.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 4680-4680
Author(s):  
Farouk Meklat ◽  
Yana Zhang ◽  
Zhiqing Wang ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Sukhrob Mustalov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Tumor Vaccine ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Early Disease ◽  
Early Stage Disease ◽  
Stage Disease ◽  
Ct Antigen ◽  
Cancer Testis ◽  
Protamine 1

Abstract Despite advances in modern chemotherapy, CLL remains incurable. CLL is an indolent disease. It expresses a panel of Cancer-Testis (CT) antigens. CLL leukemia cells are susceptible to the cytotoxicity of T cells. CLL is, therefore, an ideal disease for immunotherapeutic approaches. Immunotherapy, in addition to being less toxic and more specific than chemotherapy, provides a different mode of cytotoxicity that may synergize with that induced by chemotherapeutic agents. Immunotherapy also offers the prospect of inducing immune memory that may be important for long term disease-free survival of patients with CLL. However, there are obstacles that may prevent successful immunotherapy. CLL patients are generally immunosuppressed even before any therapy is given and the immunosuppression increases as the disease progresses. Therefore, any immunotherapeutic approaches for CLL should be aplied in early disease when immunosuppression is least encountered. We previously demonstrated the expression of a CT antigen, SEMG 1, in 3/9 patients with CLL. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that the presence of high titer IgG in the serum of patients expressing SEMG 1, suggesting the in vivo immunogenicity of SEMG 1 in the cancer-bearing autologous host. We have also recently used SEMG 1 as the bait in a yeast two-hybrid system of testicular cDNA library and identified that Protamine 1 is the interacting ligand of SEMG 1 and that Protamine 1 is also a novel CT antigen, suggesting that both SEMG 1 and Protamine 1 may be suitable antigens for tumor vaccine development. However, the expression of SEMG 1 and Protamine 1 in early CLL is unknown. We have in this study set out to determine whether or not SEMG 1 and/or Protamine 1 could be used for the design of tumor vaccine for the targeting of patients with early CLL, in particular, those with poor risk disease, as predicted by Zap 70 expression. Using pairs of sequence-specific primers in RT-PCR on a cohort of CLL (41 Stage 0/I and 6 Stage II/III), we found that SEMG 1 gene is expressed in 24/47 (51%) and Protamine 1 in 16/47 (34%) of CLL patients. Gene expression in most cases was associated with the detection by immunocytochemistry of SEMG 1 and/or Protamine 1 in the CLL cells. The expression frequency of SEMG1 and Protamine 1 in CLL did not appear to differ between early and late stage disease. 19/41 of patients with early stage disease and 5/6 of patients with late disease expressed SEMG 1; 12/41 of patients with early stage disease and 4/6 patients with late disease expressed Protamine 1. Furthermore, the expression of these antigens was equally distributed between Zap 70+ and Zap 70− CLL. SEMG 1 was expressed in 4/6 of Zap 70+ CLL (all 6 had early disease) and 2/9 of Zap 70− CLL (1/8 early disease and 1/1 late disease). Interestingly, although Protamine 1 expression in CLL predicted for SEMG 1 co-expression, only 67% of SEMG 1+ CLL expressed Protamine 1. Our results, therefore, suggest that both SEMG 1 and Protamine 1 are suitable targets for tumor vaccine development for some patients with early CLL, especially those with high risk disease, as predicted by Zap 70 expression.

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