Expression of tumor-associated antigens in breast cancer subtypes.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are frequently overexpressed in several cancer types. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of TAAs in breast cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

A total of 250 selected invasive breast cancers including 50 estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (Luminal B like), 50 triple-negative (TN), 50 ER-positive lobular type, 50 ER- and progesterone receptor (PgR)-positive (Luminal A like) and 50 cerbB2-positive breast cancers, were assessed for New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma-1 (NY-ESO-1), Wilms tumor antigen (WT-1) and PReferentially expressed Antigen of MElanoma (PRAME) antigen expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS:

A significantly higher expression of cancer testis (CT)-antigens NY-ESO-1 and WT-1 antigen was detected in TN breast cancers compared with ER-positive tumors. NY-ESO-1 overexpression (score 2 + and 3+) assessed by monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies was detected in 9 (18%) TN cancers as compared to 2 (4%) ER-positive tumors (p = 0.002). WT1 over-expression (score 2 + and 3+) was confirmed in 27 (54%) TN tumor samples as compared to 6 (12%) ER-positive (p < 0.0001). PRAME over-expression (score 2 + and 3+) was detected in 8 (16%) HER2 positive tumor samples as compared to no TN and ER-positive cancers (p = 0.0021).

CONCLUSIONS:

NY-ESO-1 and WT1 antigens are overexpressed in TN breast cancers. Because of the limited therapeutic options for this patient subgroup, CT antigen-based vaccines might prove to be useful for patients with this phenotype of breast cancer.

• Authors: Giuseppe Curigliano, Vincenzo Bagnardi, Mariacristina Ghioni, Jamila Louahed, Vincent Brichard, Frederic F Lehmann, Antonio Marra, Dario Trapani, Carmen Criscitiello, Giuseppe Viale
• Journal: Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland) (Breast) Vol. 49 Pg. 202-209 (Feb 2020) ISSN: 1532-3080 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 31869767 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CTAG1B protein, human
• Membrane Proteins
• PRAME protein, human
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Receptors, Progesterone
• WT1 Proteins
• WT1 protein, human
• ERBB2 protein, human
• Receptor, ErbB-2

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antigens, Neoplasm (analysis)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Breast Neoplasms (immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Membrane Proteins (analysis)
• Middle Aged
• Receptor, ErbB-2 (analysis)
• Receptors, Estrogen (metabolism)
• Receptors, Progesterone (metabolism)
• Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms (metabolism)
• WT1 Proteins (analysis)