title: mRNA of MAGE genes as specific markers in detection of tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by using the mRNA of the MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 genes as specific tumor markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood was obtained from 25 HCC patients and 20 healthy volunteers. The mRNA of the MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected by nested RT-PCR. The MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 transcripts in the tumor tissues of these HCC patients were also detected by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 25 HCC patients, MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNA were positive in 44% (11/25) and 36% (9/25) of PBMCs respectively, and in 68% (17/25) and 56% (14/25) of HCC tissues respectively. In the PBMCs of the 25 HCC patients, 16 (64%) samples were detected to express at least one type of MAGE mRNA. MAGE mRNA were not detected in the PBMCs from the patients whose tumors did not express the MAGE genes, nor in the PBMCs from the 20 healthy donors. The positive rate of MAGE mRNA in the PBMCs was closely correlated with the TNM stages and the diameter of tumors, but there was no correlation between the positive rate of MAGE mRNA in PBMCs and tumor differentiation degree or serum alpha-FP level. Of 9 HCC patients whose serum alpha-FP was normal or slightly elevated (< 50 ng/ml), 6 were MAGE-1 and/or MAGE-3 mRNA positive in their PBMCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNA could be specifically detected with high percentage in the PBMCs of HCC patients by our method. They can be used as specific tumor markers for the detection of the circulating HCC cells, and the detection results may be helpful to evaluate the prognosis of HCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Center of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Jirun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Shengli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Xisheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Dongcheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hongsong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jingan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rui
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger