[Expression and clinical significance of MAGE-4 gene in human hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possibility of MAGE-4 gene encoding protein used as a target for immunotherapy in HCC patients.


METHODS
The expression of MAGE-4 gene in tumor tissues and tumor adjacent non-HCC liver tissues was examined by the RT-PCR method. The relationship between positive expression rate of MAGE-4 gene and other clinical and lab data including AFP, AFU, anti-HCV, HBsAg, AFP mRNA, and the diameter of the tumors in HCC patients was also determined.


RESULTS
The positive expression rate of MAGE-4 gene was significantly higher in the tumor than in tumor surrounding tissues (38.7% vs 0%, P<0.01), while the positive expression rate of MAGE-4 gene had no relationship with the clinical and lab data (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The high frequency of MAGE-4 gene expression in HCC suggests the possibility of MAGE-4 gene encoding protein as a target for immunotherapy in HCC patients, but the expression has no relationship with the tumor metastasis and the recurrence of HCC.
Zhao
Haitao
H
Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Post & Telecomm General Hospital, 8th School of Medicine of Peking University, Beijing 100032, China.
Rui
Jing'an
J
Cong
Xu
X
Zhao
Yi
Y
Wang
Shaobin
S
Chen
Shuguang
S
Wang
Yu
Y
Wang
Yu
Y
Leng
Xisheng
X
Chen
Weifeng
W
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C095204:MAGEA4 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm