Melanoma Cell Expression of Fas(Apo-1/CD95) Ligand: Implications for Tumor Immune Escape
Abstract
Malignant melanoma accounts for most of the increasing mortality from skin cancer. Melanoma cells were found to express Fas (also called Apo-1 or CD95) ligand (FasL). In metastatic lesions, Fas-expressing T cell infiltrates were proximal to FasL^+ tumor cells. In vitro, apoptosis of Fas-sensitive target cells occurred upon incubation with melanoma tumor cells; and in vivo, injection of FasL^+ mouse melanoma cells in mice led to rapid tumor formation. In contrast, tumorigenesis was delayed in Fas-deficient lpr mutant mice in which immune effector cells cannot be killed by FasL. Thus, FasL may contribute to the immune privilege of tumors.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- November 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.274.5291.1363
- Bibcode:
- 1996Sci...274.1363H