title: Expression of the MAGE 3 gene product in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The melanoma antigen (MAGE) 3 gene may be a useful tumor specific marker since it is expressed in a variety of cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression and intracellular location of MAGE 3 gene product were investigated in 40 squamous cell carcinomas, 2 tumor lines, 20 benign diseases, and 20 normal tissues of the head and neck. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-MAGE 3 mAb 57B was conducted from fresh frozen specimens. Correlations between MAGE 3 expression and clinicopathological parameters were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MAGE 3 gene product was detected in squamous cell carcinomas (18/40, 45%) and in tumor cell lines (2/2, 100%), but not in benign diseases and normal tissues. No significant correlation was drawn between MAGE 3 expression and clinical parameters including clinical stages and metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show MAGE 3 antigen could represent a potential target for immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Pusan, Korea.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Y G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins