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BACKGROUND: Systemic immunosuppression is a significant risk factor for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). p53 is mutated and overexpressed in up to 90% of cutaneous SCC lesions. Despite considerable evidence that the immune response is important in the control of cutaneous SCC, there are no studies documenting potential tumour-associated antigens. OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that individuals with cutaneous SCC have functional circulating CD8+ T cells specific for p53. METHODS: Interferon-gamma immunosorbent assays were used to screen peripheral blood mononuclear cells for reactivity to six p53-derived HLA-A*0201-restricted epitopes from HLA-A*0201-positive patients and controls. RESULTS: We observed significantly elevated frequencies of p53-specific CD8+ T cells in seven of 26 individuals with cutaneous SCC and in one of 10 controls. The degree of lymphocytic infiltrate significantly correlated with the frequency of CD8+ T cells specific for p53 epitopes, but not with control epitopes. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these data suggest that p53 may represent a target for CD8+ T cells in a proportion of individuals with cutaneous SCC.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.06878.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Dermatol

Publication Date

11/2005

Volume

153

Pages

987 - 991

Keywords

CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell, Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte, Female, HLA-A Antigens, HLA-A2 Antigen, Humans, Interferon-gamma, Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating, Male, Skin Neoplasms, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53