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Expression of the MAGE gene family in human hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Tahara Kouichirou,
Mori Masaki,
Sadanaga Noriaki,
Sakamoto Yoshihiro,
Kitano Seigo,
Makuuchi Masatoshi
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19990315)85:6<1234::aid-cncr4>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , gene , gene expression , cancer research , immunohistochemistry , gene product , complementary dna , immunotherapy , medicine , primer (cosmetics) , polymerase chain reaction , gene family , carcinoma , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , biology , genetics , chemistry , organic chemistry
BACKGROUND The 12 members of the MAGE gene family encode tumor specific antigens that are recognized by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The MAGE genes are expressed not only in melanoma but in the other malignant tumors as well. There is, however, little information on their expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The authors thus studied the expression of the MAGE gene family in human HCC and discuss the possibility of specific immunotherapy using MAGE peptides. METHODS Tumor tissue samples of HCC and paired nontumor tissues of the liver were obtained from 22 HCC patients. Total RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized. Polymerase chain reaction amplification using each MAGE gene specific primer was then performed to detect the expression of each MAGE gene. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemical analysis were performed to confirm the expression of MAGE‐3 gene product in HCC. RESULTS The expression rate of each MAGE gene was as follows: MAGE‐1 and ‐3 were expressed in approximately 68% of the tumors; MAGE‐8 was expressed in 46%; and MAGE‐2, ‐6, ‐10, ‐11, and ‐12 were expressed in approximately 30%. Nineteen (86%) of 22 tumors expressed at least 1 MAGE gene. On the other hand, no expression was detected in the noncarcinomatous liver tissue specimens. Actual expression of the gene product of MAGE‐3 was detected in 50% of tumors. Clinicopathologic data on the MAGE positive and negative cases were compared. Significant differences were observed between MAGE expression status and a few clinicopathologic factors; however, further investigation is required to elucidate these correlations completely. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrated that MAGE gene expression is frequent in HCC, thus suggesting that HCC patients may be good candidates for specific immunotherapy using MAGE peptides. Cancer 1999;85:1234–40. © 1999 American Cancer Society.