Abstract
PurposeNY-ESO-1 cancer testis (CT) antigen is an attractive candidate for immunotherapy as a result of its high immunogenicity. The aim of this study was to explore the potential for NY-ESO-1 antigen directed immunotherapy in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) by determining the frequency of expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the degree of inherent immunogenicity to NY-ESO-1.Experimental Design168 TNBC and 47 ER+/HER2- primary breast cancer specimens were used to determine NY-ESO-1 frequency by IHC. As previous studies have shown that patients with a robust innate humoral immune response to CT antigens are more likely to develop CD8 T-cell responses to NY-ESO-1 peptides, we evaluated the degree to which patients with NY-ESO-1 expression had inherent immunogenicity by measuring antibodies. The relationship between NY-ESO-1 expression and CD8+ T lymphocytes was also examined.ResultsThe frequency of NY-ESO-1 expression in the TNBC cohort was 16% versus 2% in ER+/HER2- patients. A higher NY-ESO-1 score was associated with a younger age at diagnosis in the TNBC patients with NY-ESO-1 expression (p = 0.026). No differences in OS (p = 0.278) or PFS (p = 0.238) by NY-ESO-1 expression status were detected. Antibody responses to NY-ESO-1 were found in 73% of TNBC patients whose tumors were NY-ESO-1 positive. NY-ESO-1 positive patients had higher CD8 counts than negative patients (p = 0.018).ConclusionNY-ESO-1 is expressed in a substantial subset of TNBC patients and leads to a high humoral immune response in a large proportion of these individuals. Given these observations, patients with TNBC may benefit from targeted therapies directed against NY-ESO-1.
Highlights
Contemporary management of breast cancer with early detection, newer local control techniques, improved chemotherapy regimens, and targeted treatments has resulted in immense gains in survival in individuals with breast cancer.[1]
A higher NYESO-1 score was associated with a younger age at diagnosis in the triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) patients with NY-ESO-1 expression (p = 0.026)
NY-ESO-1 is expressed in a substantial subset of TNBC patients and leads to a high humoral immune response in a large proportion of these individuals
Summary
Contemporary management of breast cancer with early detection, newer local control techniques, improved chemotherapy regimens, and targeted treatments has resulted in immense gains in survival in individuals with breast cancer.[1]. Compared with non-TNBC, these lesions generally occur in younger women, are of a higher grade, have a higher propensity to metastasize to distant visceral organs, and have a worse outcome with a high rate of recurrences after adjuvant treatments.[2] there is a dire need to develop tumor-specific targets in an attempt to improve the outcome for patients with TNBC. An attractive approach to reduce the rate of recurrences in these individuals is use of immunotherapeutic strategies which will be most efficient in the state of minimal residual disease in individuals who have completed standard surgery and adjuvant treatments. A prerequisite for the development of immune therapies is the identification of immunogenic target cancer antigens
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
