MHC class I chain-related molecule A and B expression is upregulated by cisplatin and associated with good prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract MHC class I chain-related molecule A and B (MICA/B) are NK group 2 member D (NKG2D) ligands, which are broadly expressed in transformed cells. Both DNA damage-induced ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM)- and ATM and Rad3-related protein kinases (ATM–ATR) signaling and oncogene-induced PI3K–AKT signaling regulate the expression of NKG2D ligands, which promote NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity via NKG2D–NKG2D ligand interactions. NKG2D ligand overexpression was recently reported to be correlated with good prognosis in several types of cancer. However, the prognostic significance of NKG2D ligands in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. Here, MICA/B expression was evaluated based on immunohistochemistry of 91 NSCLC samples from patients following radical surgery. In addition, expression of MICA/B was assessed in NSCLC cell lines treated with cisplatin in order to evaluate the regulatory mechanisms of MICA/B expression. Overall, 28 out of 91 (30.8 %) specimens showed high expression level of MICA/B, which was associated with low 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake and manifestation of adenocarcinoma. After a median follow-up of 48.2 months, high MICA/B expression was associated with good recurrence-free survival (p = 0.037). In vitro assays using cell lines revealed that MICA/B expression was upregulated by cisplatin via ATM–ATR signaling, resulting in enhanced NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Upregulated MICA/B expressions in patients wi...
Source: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research