title: MAGE-A gene expression pattern in primary breast cancer.
abstract: Melanoma antigen (MAGE)-A-derived peptides elicit a strong in vitro T-cell response against tumor cells. For determination of MAGE-A1, -2, -3, -4, -6, and -12 expression profile in invasive breast cancer, we developed a multiplex seminested reverse transcription-PCR-method. In total, 18 of 67 (27%) tumors were positive for at least one of these MAGE transcripts, and the expression pattern was heterogeneous: MAGE-A1 was positive in 4 of 67 (6%), MAGE-A2 in 13 of 67 (19%), MAGE-A3 in 7 of 67 (10%), MAGE-A4 in 9 of 67 (13%), MAGE-A6 in 10 of 67 (15%), and MAGE-A12 in 6 of 67 (9%) patients. The MAGE-A transcripts were more frequently expressed in ductal breast carcinomas compared with other histomorphological types. We observed a preferential expression of MAGE-A in patients at a higher risk of recurrence: those harboring tumors with high levels of the protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its inhibitor plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, high score of the Ki-67 proliferation antigen, and lesser degree of differentiation. Our findings suggests a potential involvement of MAGE-A in tumor progression, with potential implications for active immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Molekulare Onkologie, Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otte
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zafrakas
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Riethdorf
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pichlmeier
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Löning
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jänicke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pantel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C409589:MAGEA12 protein, human; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; C095204:MAGEA4 protein, human; C420909:Mage-a2 antigen; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins