Assessment of MAGE-A expression in resected non-small cell lung cancer in relation to clinicopathologic features and mutational status of EGFR and KRAS.

Abstract

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a major public health problem, accounting for more cancer-related deaths than any other cancer. Both immunotherapy, based on the expression of tumor-specific antigens, and targeted therapy, based on the presence of oncogenic mutations, are under development for NSCLC. In this study, we analyzed the expression of MAGE-A, a cancer-testis antigen, in tumors from a cohort of patients with resected NSCLC with respect to their clinicopathologic characteristics and their mutational status for the EGFR and KRAS genes. We found MAGE-A expression by IHC in 43% of the tumors. MAGE-A expression was significantly more frequent in squamous tumors than in adenocarcinomas, did not correlate with disease stage, but was correlated significantly with high tumor grade and worse survival. EGFR and KRAS mutations were present in adenocarcinomas, but not in squamous tumors. Whereas the presence of EGFR mutations did not seem to affect survival, the presence of KRAS mutations was associated with early-stage disease and better survival. MAGE-A expression was absent from adenocarcinomas with KRAS mutations, but not significantly different in tumors with or without EGFR mutations. Together, the reported results provide guidance for the design of combination therapies in patients with NSCLC.

• Authors: Maha Ayyoub, Lorenzo Memeo, Emilio Alvarez-Fernández, Cristina Colarossi, Rosario Costanzo, Eleonora Aiello, Daniela Martinetti, Danila Valmori
• Journal: Cancer immunology research (Cancer Immunol Res) Vol. 2 Issue 10 Pg. 943-8 (Oct 2014) ISSN: 2326-6074 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24866168 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: ©2014 American Association for Cancer Research.

Chemical References

• Antigens, Neoplasm
• KRAS protein, human
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins
• EGFR protein, human
• ErbB Receptors
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
• ras Proteins

Topics

• Aged
• Antigens, Neoplasm (metabolism)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (genetics, metabolism, pathology, surgery)
• DNA Mutational Analysis (methods)
• ErbB Receptors (genetics)
• Female
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, pathology, surgery)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mutation
• Neoplasm Grading
• Neoplasm Staging
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins (genetics)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
• Survival Analysis
• ras Proteins (genetics)