Tumor‐derived microvesicles in sera of patients with head and neck cancer and their role in tumor progression

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Abstract
Background Tumor‐derived membranous vesicles (MV) isolated from sera of the patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) induce apoptosis of activated CD8+ T cells. We tested if MV molecular profile and activity correlate with disease progression. Methods CD8+ Jurkat cells were incubated with MAGE 3/6+, FasL+, MHC class I+ MV isolated from sera of 60 patients with HNSCC and 25 normal controls by exclusion chromatography and ultracentrifugation. Z‐VAD‐FITC binding to Jurkat was measured and correlated with clinical data. Results MV from patients' sera, but not from sera of normal controls, induced Jurkat cell apoptosis. Forty‐five percent T cells+MV from patients with N1‐N3 disease were apoptotic versus 18% T cells+MV from patients with N0 disease (p < .008). MV from patients with active disease (AD) expressed higher FasL levels than MV from patients with no evident disease (NED) or normal controls (p ≤ .01). Conclusion MAGE 3/6+, FasL+, and MHCI+ MV in sera of patients induced T‐cell apoptosis, which correlated with disease activity and the presence of lymph node metastases. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009