John Libbey Eurotext




Tissue prognostic markers for adoptive immunotherapy in melanoma
European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 17, Number 4, 295-301, July-August 2007, Investigative report
Free Article
Author(s) : Gaëlle Quereux, Marie-Christine Pandolfino, Anne-Chantal Knol, Amir Khammari, Christelle Volteau, Jean-Michel Nguyen, Brigitte Dreno
Summary : Adoptive immunotherapy for melanoma appears to be a promising approach. The aim of our study was to discuss the role of “tumour tissue” immunogenicity in response to adoptive immunotherapy. We thus studied the potential correlation between the expression of some melanocyte differentiation antigens, adhesion molecules and cytokines expressed by the tumour cells and the survival of patients receiving an adoptive immunotherapy with autologous Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL). An immunohistochemical study was performed on the lymph node samples obtained from 38 patients who received autologous TIL plus interleukin-2. Frozen sections were immunostained for melanocyte differentiation antigens (Melan-A and gp100), MHC molecules (Class I and II), adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, LFA-3) and suppressive cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β and α-MSH). Expression levels of each marker were evaluated using a semi-quantitative visual scale. Using a multivariate analysis, a low expression level of TGF-β by tumour cells was significantly associated with a prolonged relapse-free survival. A low expression level of TGF-β, IL-10, ICAM-1 and α-MSH by tumour cells was significantly associated with a longer overall survival. This work suggests that a weak expression of immunosuppressive cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β and α-MSH) could be a favourable prognostic marker for patients receiving autologous TIL.
Keywords : immunotherapy, lymphocyte, melanoma, prognostic marker, tumour infiltrating, survival

Tissue prognostic markers for adoptive immunotherapy in melanoma