Expression of MAGE-1, MAGE-2, MAGE-3/-6 and MAGE-4a/-4b genes in ovarian tumors.
MAGE genes encoding tumor-rejection antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes are expressed at the mRNA level in various malignant tumors. We have investigated the expression of genes MAGE-1, -2, -3/-6 and -4a/-4b at the mRNA level in malignant and non-malignant ovarian tumors as well as in normal ovaries by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. MAGE-1, -2, -3/-6 and -4a/-4b were expressed in 12, 5, 11 and 4 of 58 malignant tumors, respectively. The majority of these MAGE-mRNA-positive tumors were histologically surface-epithelial-stromal tumors, in particular serous adenocarcinomas. They mostly consisted of either advanced-stage or recurrent tumors. In contrast, neither benign tumors nor normal ovaries expressed any of the MAGE genes investigated. A 46-kDa MAGE-1 protein was identified in MAGE-1-mRNA-positive serous adenocarcinomas by immunoblot analysis with polyclonal anti-MAGE-1 antibody. These results provide important information for specific immunotherapy of ovarian serous adenocarcinomas with MAGE gene products.
Yamada
A
A
Department of Immunology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kataoka
A
A
Shichijo
S
S
Kamura
T
T
Imai
Y
Y
Nishida
T
T
Itoh
K
K
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D001483:Base Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger