Expression pattern of tumour-associated antigens in hepatocellular carcinoma: association with immune infiltration and disease progression |
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Authors: | J Liang T Ding Z-W Guo X-J Yu Y-Z Hu L Zheng J Xu |
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Institution: | 1.State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou 510 060, PR China;2.State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou 510 031, PR China;3.Department of Cell Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210 029, PR China;4.Bank of Tumor Resources, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou 510 060, PR China |
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Abstract: | Background: The distinct expression pattern of tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) might be a critical reason for the inefficacy of immunity-based treatments and heterogeneous postsurgical recovery in patients with solid tumours, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, little is known about the clinical value of the coexpression patterns of multiple TAAs.Methods: We determined the expression of multiple TAAs with identified immunogenicity (GPC3, AFP, SSX-2, NY-ESO-1, EpCAM, midkine) and the density of tumour-infiltrating immune cells by immunohistochemistry in a panel of 362 primary HCC patients. We evaluated the association between the TAAs, immune cell infiltration, clinicopathological parameters, and prognosis.Results: Patients who coexpressed more TAAs had better prognosis (P<0.00001, overall survival). The integrated pattern of TAA was associated with good differentiation and small tumour size, and with more CD57+ natural killer and CD20+ B-cell infiltration (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis identified the TAA index as an independent prognostic indicator (hazard ratio 0.625; 95% confidence interval 0.467–0.837; P=0.002), and could further predict patient prognosis in collaboration with local immune infiltration.Conclusion: Our results could provide new evidence for the improvement of prognostic molecular signatures in HCC, and a novel rationale for patient enrolment in future immunotherapeutic trials and/or clinical treatments. |
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Keywords: | tumour-associated antigen immune infiltration prognosis hepatocellular carcinoma |
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