High frequency of the MAGE-1 gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.
The MAGE-1 gene, originally isolated from a human melanoma cell line, directs the expression of a potential tumor-rejection antigen, MZ2-E. This antigen is recognized by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes in association with a major histocompatibility complex class I molecule (HLA-A1), and has provided a basis for specific immunotherapy for melanoma patients. Here we show a high frequency of expression of the MAGE-1 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We examined the expression of the MAGE-1 gene in cell lines originated from hepatoma cells and in tumor and nontumor tissues of livers with HCC by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and subsequent Southern blotting. MAGE-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) was expressed in three of four HCC cell lines (75%) and in 16 of 20 (80%) resected HCCs though none was detected in nontumor tissues. The high frequency expression of MAGE-1 gene in HCCs suggests the possibility as a target for tumor-specific immunotherapy for HCC patients.
Yamashita
N
N
First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Ishibashi
H
H
Hayashida
K
K
Kudo
J
J
Takenaka
K
K
Itoh
K
K
Niho
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D017931:DNA Primers; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes