title: Expression of the MAGE gene family in human head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinomas.
abstract: The MAGE genes encode certain tumor-associated antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We investigated the expression of the MAGE-1, -2, -3, -4, -41, and -6 genes in 88 head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinomas (83 fresh tumor samples and 5 cell lines), using a reverse-transcription-polymerase-chain-reaction assay, followed by dot-blot hybridization with sequence-specific oligonucleotides and/or restriction enzyme-pattern analysis. The MAGE-1, -2, -3, -4, -41 and -6 genes were expressed at the mRNA level in 27, 34, 36, 22, 16 and 35, respectively, of 83 fresh tumor samples. At least one of these genes was expressed in 59 of the 83 samples. Neither non-tumor inflammatory cells nor normal tissues were positive for these genes. The MAGE-1 gene was expressed relatively frequently in SCC of the oropharynx, hypopharynx and maxillary sinus, but at lower rates in SCC of the larynx and of the tongue and oral cavity. MAGE-1 was frequently expressed in poorly differentiated SCC, somewhat less frequently in moderately differentiated SCC, and only infrequently in well-differentiated SCC. The expression levels of the other MAGE genes also varied with the anatomic site as well as the degree of differentiation. Our results suggest that specific immunotherapy against MAGE gene products may be useful for patients with head-and-neck carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chikamatsu
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masuyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger