Cancer-testis gene expression is associated with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 C>T polymorphism in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Tumor-specific, coordinate expression of cancer-testis (CT) genes, mapping to the X chromosome, is observed in more than 60% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Although CT gene expression has been unequivocally related to DNA demethylation of promoter regions, the underlying mechanism leading to loss of promoter methylation remains elusive. Polymorphisms of enzymes within the 1-carbon pathway have been shown to affect S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) production, which is the sole methyl donor in the cell. Allelic variants of several enzymes within this pathway have been associated with altered SAM levels either directly, or indirectly as reflected by altered levels of SAH and Homocysteine levels, and altered levels of DNA methylation. We, therefore, asked whether the five most commonly occurring polymorphisms in four of the enzymes in the 1-carbon pathway associated with CT gene expression status in patients with NSCLC. METHODS: Fifty patients among a cohort of 763 with NSCLC were selected based on CT gene expression status and typed for five polymorphisms in four genes known to affect SAM generation by allele specific q-PCR and RFLP. RESULTS: We identified a significant association between CT gene expression and the MTHFR 677 CC genotype, as well as the C allele of the SNP, in this cohort of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that the genotype and allele strongly associate with CT gene expression, independent of potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Although CT gene expression is associated with DNA demethylation, in NSCLC, our data suggests this is unlikely to be the result of decreased MTHFR function.

Generation of monoclonal antibodies to cancer/testis (CT) antigen CT10/MAGE-C2.

CT10/MAGE-C2 is a recently identified antigen that, typically of cancer/testis (CT) antigens, can be found in various malignant tumors and in normal adult testis. As with many other CT antigens, our knowledge is based mainly on mRNA expression data. In the present study, we describe the generation of mAbs to CT10/MAGE-C2 for the analysis of its protein expression. Newly generated clones were chosen based on their reactivity in ELISA, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Emphasis was put on the reactivity of newly generated reagents on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue to ensure their applicability to archival material. Eventually we selected two clones, LX-CT10.5 and LX-CT10.9, that showed intense reactivity to CT10/MAGE-C2 protein and CT10/MAGE-C2 mRNA-positive cell lines, but no cross-reactivity with other CT antigens. Both mAbs show superior staining characteristics in IHC and are applicable to frozen and paraffin sections. In testis, CT10/MAGE-C2 displays the typical CT pattern with regard to staining of germ cells, which is intense during the early maturation stages. In tumors, we analyzed a limited number of cases displaying the typical heterogeneous CT expression pattern. Interestingly, immunoreactivity was seen solely in the nucleus: No staining was seen in the cytoplasm of tumor cells.

Cancer-testis genes are coordinately expressed and are markers of poor outcome in non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Cancer-testis genes mapping to the X chromosome have common expression patterns and show similar responses to modulators of epigenetic mechanisms. We asked whether cancer-testis gene expression occurred coordinately, and whether it correlated with variables of disease and clinical outcome of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Tumors from 523 NSCLC patients undergoing surgery were evaluated for the expression of nine cancer-testis genes (NY-ESO-1, LAGE-1, MAGE-A1, MAGE-A3, MAGE-A4, MAGE-A10, CT7/MAGE-C1, SSX2, and SSX4) by semiquantitative PCR. Clinical data available for 447 patients were used to correlate cancer-testis expression to variables of disease and clinical outcome. RESULTS: At least one cancer-testis gene was expressed by 90% of squamous carcinoma, 62% of bronchioloalveolar cancer, and 67% of adenocarcinoma samples. Statistically significant coexpression was observed for 34 of the 36 possible cancer-testis combinations. Cancer-testis gene expression, either cumulatively or individually, showed significant associations with male sex, smoking history, advanced tumor, nodal and pathologic stages, pleural invasion, and the absence of ground glass opacity. Cox regression analysis revealed the expression of NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A3 as markers of poor prognosis, independent of confounding variables for adenocarcinoma of the lung. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer-testis genes are coordinately expressed in NSCLC, and their expression is associated with advanced disease and poor outcome.