Monophasic and biphasic synovial sarcomas abundantly express cancer/testis antigen NY-ESO-1 but not MAGE-A1 or CT7.

Abstract

Synovial sarcomas are high-grade malignant mesenchymal tumors with biphasic (BSS) and monophasic (MSS) variants that carry a pathognomonic cytogenetic alteration, t(X;18), involving the SYT gene on chromosome 18 and one of several SSX genes on chromosome X, usually SSX1 or SSX2. Cancer/testis (CT) antigens are expressed in a variety of malignant neoplasms but, in normal tissues, are restricted to male germ cells. Previous analysis revealed a high incidence and homogeneous expression of MAGE CT antigen in synovial sarcomas. The present study was performed to analyze the expression of 3 CT antigens, NY-ESO-1, MAGE-A1 and CT7, by immunohistochemistry with 3 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), ES121 (anti-NY-ESO-1), MA454 (anti-MAGE-A1) and CT7-33 (anti-CT7), in 25 synovial sarcomas (12 MSS, 13 BSS) typed for the t(X;18)-derived fusion transcript by RT-PCR (19 SYT-SSX1, 6 SYT-SSX2). NY-ESO-1 immunoreactivity was found in 20/25 (80%) cases, and antigen expression was homogeneous in 14/20 NY-ESO-1-positive cases. Both morphologic variants and both translocation types were NY-ESO-1-positive, whereas 5 SYT-SSX1 tumors (1 MSS, 4 BSS) were NY-ESO-1-negative. MAb MA454 was immunoreactive with 4/25 cases (2 MSS, 2 BSS; 3 SYT-SSX1, 1 SYT-SSX2), and MAb CT7-33 was immunoreactive with only 2/25 cases (both BSS, SYT-SSX1). Expression of MAGE-A1 and CT7 was heterogeneous in all positive cases. Our study shows that NY-ESO-1 is highly expressed in a homogeneous pattern in synovial sarcomas of both morphologic variants and both translocation types, making these tumors an attractive target for NY-ESO-1 antigen-based immunotherapy.

• Authors: A A Jungbluth, C R Antonescu, K J Busam, K Iversen, D Kolb, K Coplan, Y T Chen, E Stockert, M Ladanyi, L J Old
• Journal: International journal of cancer (Int J Cancer) Vol. 94 Issue 2 Pg. 252-6 (Oct 15 2001) ISSN: 0020-7136 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11668506 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Antigens, Neoplasm
• CTAG1B protein, human
• MAGEC1 protein, human
• Melanoma-Specific Antigens
• Membrane Proteins
• Neoplasm Proteins
• Proteins

Topics

• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Melanoma-Specific Antigens
• Membrane Proteins
• Neoplasm Proteins (analysis)
• Proteins (analysis)
• Sarcoma, Synovial (immunology)