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mRNA detection of tumor‐rejection genes BAGE , GAGE , and MAGE in peritoneal fluid from patients with ovarian carcinoma as a potential diagnostic tool
Author(s) -
Hofmann Manfred,
Ruschenburg Ilka
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
cancer cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.10622
Subject(s) - ascites , ovarian carcinoma , medicine , cirrhosis , ovarian cancer , pathology , serous fluid , gene expression , gene , carcinoma , polymerase chain reaction , hepatocellular carcinoma , ascitic fluid , cancer research , cancer , biology , biochemistry
Abstract BACKGROUND It has been found that the members of the BAGE , MAGE , and GAGE gene families are expressed almost exclusively in neoplastic tissues. Normal tissues, except testis and placenta, are negative. Therefore, the expression of these genes may serve as a useful diagnostic marker in detecting malignant disease. The involvement of the serous cavities by malignant neoplasms has important therapeutic and prognostic implications. Accordingly, the diagnosis of peritoneal spread of ovarian carcinoma plays an important role for both initial and second‐look staging procedures. In some patients, however, a definite diagnosis cannot be established by morphologic or immunocytologic examination alone. Detection of tumor specific gene expression may be a sensitive additional tool in these settings. METHODS The authors studied the gene expression observed in 44 ascites specimens. Gene expression was evaluated by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction analysis and sequencing. RESULTS Of 44 ascites specimens, the expression of BAGE , MAGE‐1 , MAGE‐3 , and GAGE‐1/2 was recognized in 17 specimens (63%), 2 specimens (7%), 8 specimens (30%), and 8 specimens (30%) with histologically proven ovarian carcinoma, respectively. Expression of the MAGE and GAGE genes was not observed in patients with nonneoplastic disease, whereas BAGE expression was seen in one patient with cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS These findings show that testing for BAGE , GAGE‐1/2 , MAGE‐1 , and MAGE‐3 transcriptional activity in ascites specimens results in high sensitivity in diagnosing malignant ascites. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2002. © 2002 American Cancer Society.