New York Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma-1 (NY-ESO-1) Expression in Synovial Sarcoma and Other Non Synovial Sarcoma as Potential Target for Immunotherapy

Abstract

Background
Synovial sarcoma is a rare high grade soft tissue sarcoma. Nowdays, the available therapeutic modalities has not given a
satisfactory result yet. Currently, there is a promising therapeutic strategy through immunotherapy targeting NY-ESO-1 which is
expressed on tumor. The aim of this study was comparing NY-ESO-1 immunoexpression between synovial sarcoma and its
histologic mimics i.e. malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)
Methods
A cross sectional study was done in 28 cases of synovial sarcoma, 10 cases of MPNST and 17 cases of DFSP from archieval
material in Department Anatomical Pathology, FMUI/RSCM from January 2013 to June 2019. Immunohistohemical stainning was
performed using an antibody NY-ESO-1 and it was described positive if it was expressed in more than 50% of tumor with moderate
to strong positive intensity.
Results
There is a significant difference (p<0.001) in NY-ESO-1 immunoexpression among synovial sarcoma (18/28), MPNST (2/10) and
DFSP (1/17). Furthermore, synovial sarcoma showed a significantly higher immunoexpression compared to MPNST (OR 7.2;
p=0.016; power 68.7%) and DFSP (OR 28.8; p<0.001; power 98.9%).
Conclusion
Synovial sarcoma showed a higher expression of NY-ESO-1 thus makes it as a good candidates for immunotherapy. There are
differences in the expression of NY-ESO-1 in synovial sarcoma against MPNST and DFSP.