Is there Any Relationship Between Gene Expression of Tumor Antigens and CD4 + T Cells in Multiple Myeloma?

Aim: The present study aimed at correlating the expression of cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) with the expression of genes related to tumor‐infiltrating T cells. Materials & methods: MAGE‐C1/CT‐7, MAGEA3/6, NY‐ESO‐1, LAGE‐1 and GAGE expression were evaluated in 46 bone marrow multiple myeloma (MM) aspirates by RT‐PCR. Expression of FOXP3/CTLA4 and RORyt, as markers for Tregs and Th17 cells, respectively, was investigated by quantitative PCR. Results: MAGEC1/CT7 was expressed in 66% of MM samples. We did not find correlation between the presence of single CTA and expression of CTLA4 or RORyt neither expression of CD4+ T‐cell markers and the number of CTA simultaneously expressed in the tumor. However, we did observe a correlation between the percentage of plasma cells and the number of CTAs expressed in the patients' bone marrow. Conclusion: Although CTAs and immunomodulatory CD4+ T cells represent potential targets for immunotherapy in MM, we did not find association among expression of such genes in MM.