MAGE-A genes are not expressed in human leukemias.
Immunotherapy is promising to improve the prognosis of human leukemias, at least as adjuvant treatment. Tumor-associated antigens such as antigens encoded by MAGE-A1, -A2, -A3, -A4, -A6 and -A12 genes might provide tools in this field. We demonstrated recently that the presentation peptides encoded by MAGE-A genes might make leukemic blasts suitable targets to cytolytic T lymphocytes. We reported previously negative data of MAGE-A1 gene expression in hematological malignancies, but in further studies positive results of MAGE-A gene expression were published in some subtypes of hematological malignancies such as T leukemia, myeloma and Hodgkin's disease. This led us to enlarge the screening of MAGE-A gene expression in human leukemias. In the RT-PCR screening of a large panel including 154 patients, only weak signal were detected in a few samples. We conclude that MAGE-A genes are not expressed in human leukemias.
Chambost
H
H
INSERM U119 Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France.
van Baren
N
N
Brasseur
F
F
Olive
D
D
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D020014:K562 Cells; D007938:Leukemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C409589:MAGEA12 protein, human; C095204:MAGEA4 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm