Analysis of NY-ESO-1 expression in cutaneous melanoma

• Grant number: 13/02907-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: April 08, 2013
• End date: April 07, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Cyro Festa Neto
• Grantee: Mara Huffenbaecher Giavina-Bianchi
• Supervisor: Lyn Stuart McDivitt Duncan
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Massachusetts General Hospital, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/19168-6 - Analysis of NY-ESO-1 expression in cutaneous melanoma, BP.DD

Abstract

Cutaneous melanoma is a major problem worldwide because its incidence and mortality are increasing, meanly in caucasian individuals. Cancer-testis antigens are characterized by having a low expression in normal tissue and by having an abnormal expression in a variety of cancers. They are a potential target for vaccines against cancer. NY-ESO-1 is the best antigen characterized. It is expressed in 20-30% of all pulmonary, esophagous, liver, stomach, prostate, ovarian, bladder and melanoma cancers. Objectives: to determine the frequency of NY-ESO-1 positive melanomas in our sample and to correlate NY-ESO-1 antigen expression with the clinical and histopathological aspects of cutaneous melanoma. Methods: this will be a retrospective cohort. We will select 90 patients. They will be separated in three groups: 1- Thin melanoma (in situ or thickness < 1.1mm); 2- Intermediate (from 1.1 to 4.0mm); and 3- Thick tumors (> 4.0mm). Their clinical files will be revised and the clinical and histopathological features will be noted. The tumor specimen will be revised and we will perform immunohistochemistry study for NY-ESO-1, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, Granzyme B and TIA1in the inflammatory infiltrate. We will analyse if there will be statistic difference between positive and negative NY-ESO-1 groups regarding gender, race, skin phototype, age, tumor location, pre-existing lesion, and histopathological type, Breslow index, ulceration, development of metastasis, survival rate and composition of tumor inflammatory infiltrate between these two groups. (AU)