[Expression of MAGE-1 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of MAGE-1 mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to discuss the possibility of using MAGE-1 antigens as a new peptide vaccine for immunotherapy for HCC.


METHODS
The expression of MAGE-1 mRNA in HCC tissue and the adjacent non-HCC liver tissue was detected using RT-PCR in 45 samples of HCC, 16 samples of cirrhosis and 12 samples of normal liver tissue. The 6 samples of MAGE-1 mRNA positive PCR products were DNA sequenced. The sequenced fragments of MAGE-1 cDNA were used as template to which a [alpha 32P] labeled probe was synthesized and employed for Southern blot analysis. HLA class I-A and I-B typing of 43 HCC patients were assayed by ELISA test.


RESULTS
Of the 45 HCC samples, 32 expressed MAGE-1 mRNA. None of the HCC adjacent tissue or liver tissue from cirrhosis or normal liver samples expressed MAGE-1 mRNA. The DNA sequence confirmed that the target gene fragment in all the 6 samples of PCR products was MAGE-1 cDNA. Point mutation occurred in 3 samples resulting in alternation of amino acid residues in 2 positions. Southern blot analysis showed that MAGE-1 was also detectable in HCC tissue which was MAGE-1 positive in RT-PCR assay, but not detectable in non-HCC liver tissue. In HCC patients, the predominant types of HLA were A2(53.5%), A11(25.6%), A24(20.9%), A33(20.9%), B13 (28.3%) and B35(23.2%). MAGE-1 mRNA expression in HCC showed no correlation with the level of alpha-FP in blood and the diameter of tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
MAGE-1 mRNA is expressed at a high percentage of HCC samples. This tumor rejection antigen may have potential to be used as a new peptide vaccine for immunotherapy for HCC. There are point mutations of MAGE-1 gene sequence in some Chinese HCC patients.
Cai
S
S
Department of Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100044.
Chen
H
H
Wang
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017354:Point Mutation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger