Expression of MAGE-A3 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and its precursor lesions.
MAGE-A3 antigen is known to be neo-expressed in a large proportion of tumors but not detectable in normal tissues, and could be a target antigen recognized by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In the present study, the expression of MAGE-A3 at protein and mRNA levels was examined in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and its precursor lesions. Carcinomatous and dysplastic biliary cells expressed MAGE-A3 in their cytoplasm diffusely, although there was no MAGE-A3 expression in normal and hyperplastic biliary cells. MAGE-A3 was expressed in one of 10 cases (10%) of low-grade dysplasia, four of 13 (31%) cases of high-grade dysplasia/in situ carcinoma, and 32 of 68 invasive ICC cases (47%), respectively. The MAGE-A3 mRNA expression pattern was similar to that of MAGE-A3 protein. The incidence and intensity of MAGE-A3 expression increased along the progression of biliary neoplasia (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between MAGE-3 expression and histological differentiation or anatomical locations of invasive ICC. MAGE-A3 is a promising target molecule for the specific immunotherapy of ICC.
Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan.
Koichi
K
Tsuneyama
Motoko
M
Sasaki
Tomonori
T
Shimonishi
Yasuni
Y
Nakanuma
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger