Tissue prognostic markers for adoptive immunotherapy in melanoma.

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-beta and alpha-MSH). Expression levels of each marker were evaluated using a semi-quantitative visual scale. Using a multivariate analysis, a low expression level of TGF-beta by tumour cells was significantly associated with a prolonged relapse-free survival. A low expression level of TGF-beta, IL-10, ICAM-1 and alpha-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-beta and alpha-MSH) could be a favourable prognostic marker for patients receiving autologous TIL.