NY-ESO-1 Expression Is Associated with Melanoma Thickness, but Not Mortality

Abstract

RATIONALE: It is important to study the expression of cancer-testis antigens such as NY-ESO-1, because they can help not only in diagnosis, but can be a very interesting target for immunotherapy against cancer. The aim of this study was to correlate the expression of cancer-testis antigen NY-ESO-1 with morbidity and mortality of cutaneous melanoma. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort with 471 patients. They were separated in three groups: 1-Thinmelanoma (in situ or thickness < 1.1mm); 2- Intermediate (from 1.1 to 4.0mm); and 3- Thick tumors (> 4.0mm). We randomly sortedout 31,28and31casesfromgroups1,2and3,respectively, totalizing 90 melanoma cases. The patients’ charts were reviewed, and the clinicopathological parameters analyzed. The tumor specimens were also reviewed and subsequently subjected to immunohistochemical examination to study the expression of tumor protein NY-ESO-1. RESULTS: Therewas no statistical difference between groups NY-ESO-1 positive (25% of cases) and negative (75% of cases) with respect to gender, race, skin type, age, tumor location, pre-existing lesion, histological type, Breslow index, ulceration, sentinel lymph node, metastases development and survival rates. Melanomas NY-ESO-1 positivewere on average thicker than the negative ones (p 50.026). CONCLUSIONS: Immunohistochemistry with antibodies NY-ESO-1 was positive in 25% of melanom’s biopsy specimens. The expression of NY-ESO-1 was associated with tumor thickness, but not mortality from melanoma.