title: [Expression of melanoma antigen gene in urinary transitional cell carcinomas].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the significance of melanoma antigen (MAGE) gene expression in bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  MAGE-A1, A2, A3, A4 mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 3 clusters bladder TCC cells and 20 samples of bladder TCC patients (T(1) 7 samples, T(2) 5 samples, T(3) 6 samples, T(4) 2 samples, G(1) 1 samples, G(2) 11 samples, G(3) 8 samples). MAGE-A4 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in 105 samples of bladder TCC patients (T(1) 35 samples, T(2) 12 samples, T(3) 26 samples, T(4) 13 samples, G(1) 13 samples, G(2) 44 samples, G(3) 48 samples).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three clusters bladder TCC cells had MAGE gene mRNA expression. In detection of MAGE mRNA of 20 samples of bladder TCC patients, 12 samples (60%) expressed MAGE-A1, 16 samples (80%) expressed MAGE-A2, 11 samples (55%) expressed MAGE-A3, 18 samples (90%) expressed MAGE-A4, 8 samples (40%) expressed all of MAGE-A1--A4. In 105 bladder TCC samples, 53 samples (50%) expressed MAGE-A4 protein. Strong expression (++ or +++) was significant higher in higher grade (13 samples/48 samples) or stage (14 samples/51 samples) than in lower grade (2 samples/57 samples) or stage (0 samples/35 samples).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MAGE gene highly expresses in bladder TCC. Bladder TCC of high grade or high stage has higher MAGE-A4 protein strong expression.
authors: Department of Urology, First Hospital of Peking University, Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Geng
authors: Li-zhang
authors: LZ
authors: Yu
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Du
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Ma
authors: Yan-qun
authors: YQ
authors: Na
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger