High Expression of Human Leukocyte Antigen-G is Associated with a Poor Prognosis in Patients with PDAC

Curr Mol Med. 2015;15(4):360-7. doi: 10.2174/1566524015666150401102218.

Abstract

Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most deadly malignant tumors worldwide. A variety of mechanisms are involved in PDAC biological behaviors, of which, the mechanisms of immune escape may be a pivotal hallmark. HLA-G is a tolerant molecule implicated in tumor escape and serves as a prognostic biomarker in tumors. Our study evaluated the expression of HLA-G in PDAC and explored its clinical significance. In a cohort of 122 PDAC patients, 78 patents (63.9%) exhibited high level of HLA-G tumor tissues. Multivariate analysis suggested that HLA-G level was an independent predictor for OS (HR = 3.894, 95% CI = 2.380-6.370, p <0.001). High level of HLA-G significantly correlated with PDAC aggressive features, such as more advanced stage (TNM Stage II) (p<0.001), extrapancreatic infiltration (T3 stage) (p<0.001), lymph node involvement (p=0.019) and poor differentiation (p=0.010). In western blot analysis, almost all of the tumor cell lines (5/6) expressed high levels of HLA-G. In ELISA analysis, the level of plasma sHLA-G in PDAC patients were significantly increased than in healthy control (P=0.0037). Further analysis revealed the level of sHLA-G inversely related to numbers of peripheral activated T cells (CD8+CD28+ T cells), which may indicate that sHLA-G inactivates T cell responses resulting in tumor immune escape. In conclusion, tumor-derived HLA-G may indicate the mechanism of immune escape and impaired PDAC clinical outcome, especially in early-stage patients, which may also be a potential therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / immunology
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / immunology
  • CD28 Antigens / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • HLA-G Antigens / blood*
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prognosis
  • Tumor Escape / immunology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD28 Antigens
  • HLA-G Antigens