High-expression of V-domain Imuunoglobulin Suppressor of T-cell Activation (VISTA) Is Correlated with Advanced Pathological Features in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Hamid Nickho; Reza Falak; Fereshteh Rezagholizadeh; Majid Khoshmirsafa; Mohammad Taghi Joghataei; Shabnam Mollazadeh Ghomi; Elahe Safari

doi:10.18502/ijaai.v23i3.15636

Hamid Nickho Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Reza Falak Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Fereshteh Rezagholizadeh Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,
Majid Khoshmirsafa Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Taghi Joghataei Cellular and Molecular Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shabnam Mollazadeh Ghomi Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Elahe Safari Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijaai.v23i3.15636

Keywords: Immune checkpoint; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor; T cell activation

Abstract

V-domain Imuunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) seems a promising immune checkpoint target in cancer treatment; however, its prognostic significance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unknown.

Herein, 29 fresh PDAC tissue samples were used to evaluate the mRNA expression level of VISTA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Besides, 40 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded PDAC tissues were collected to evaluate VISTA protein expression by immunohistochemistry.

Real-time PCR indicated that high expression of VISTA was significantly correlated with advanced stages of the cancer, based on the tumor/node/metastasis (TNM) stagingand tumor cell differentiation. Immunohistochemistry results also showed significant correlation of the elevated cytoplasmic expression of VISTA with advanced TNM stages, older age of the patients and was a worsening indicator, regarding the disease-specific survival.

In conclusion, we found that the expression levels of VISTA can be a potential prognostic biomarker in PDAC patients and its elevated levels are correlated with poor prognostic outcomes.