title: Infrequent expression of the MAGE gene family in uveal melanomas.
abstract: It has previously been reported that MAGE-1, -2, -3 and -4 genes are expressed in human cancers including cutaneous melanoma. MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 represent targets for specific immunotherapy because they encode peptide antigens which are recognised by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) when presented by HLA class I molecules, and pilot clinical trials with these peptides are currently in progress. It is likely that other members of the MAGE gene family may also encode antigens recognised by CTL. Uveal melanomas, like cutaneous melanomas, arise from melanocytes that are derived from the neural crest. To determine if uveal melanoma patients would be suitable for MAGE-peptide immunotherapy, the expression of MAGE-1, -2, -3 and -4 genes was assessed by reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification and ethidium bromide staining. Expression of MAGE genes was not detected in any of 27 primary tumours. Either MAGE-1 or MAGE-4 was expressed in only 2 of 26 metastatic samples, but expression of MAGE-2 or -3 was not detected. Our data suggest that, unlike cutaneous melanomas, uveal melanomas may not be suitable candidates for MAGE-peptide immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Mulcahy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rimoldi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brasseur
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liénard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Rennie
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Platts
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leyvraz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boon
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; C095204:MAGEA4 protein, human; C072012:MAGEB2 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm