CTLA-4 in mesothelioma patients: tissue expression, body fluid levels and possible relevance as a prognostic factor

摘要: CTLA-4 function as a negative regulator of T cell-mediated immune response is well established, whereas much less known about the immunoregulatory role its soluble isoform (sCTLA-4). No data are available on expression and prognostic impact in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). We investigated, by immunohistochemistry, tumor tissues and, ELISA, sCTLA-4 levels sera matched effusions from 45 MPM patients. Prognostic effect overall survival (OS) was assessed through Cox regression significance expressed death rate ratio (HR). found that 56.0 % with variable intensity percentage positive cells estimated immunoreactive score. were significantly higher (S-sCTLA-4) than (PE-sCTLA-4) (geometric mean ratio = 2.70, P value = 0.020). at tissue level epithelioid histological subtype sarcomatoid, serum level, it sarcomatoid subtype. A homogeneous favorable for overexpression tissue, effusion. Interestingly, only PE-sCTLA-4 to be statistically significant factor (HR = 0.37, 95 % CI = 0.18-0.77, value = 0.007). Indeed, correlated tissues, this latter showed weak association OS. To confirm our findings, further experimental evidences obtained larger cohort patients required. However, results would indicate correlation OS