Expression and Prognostic Relevance of GAGE1 and XAGE1 Cancer/Testis Antigens in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

摘要

Background: In the last decades, survival rates in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have not changed, with a five-year survival of only 50%. Thus, there is a great need for the identification of new molecular targets and development of novel therapeutic strategies. Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are expressed in various types of tumor but rarely in healthy normal tissues. Therefore, they appear as ideal targets for immunotherapy approaches, as well as, unique markers for cancer diagnosis/prognosis.