title: Expression of MAGE A 1-6 mRNA in sputa of head and neck cancer patients--a preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The applicability of the melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) to the molecular diagnosis of cancer, by detecting MAGE mRNA in the sputa of head and neck cancer patients, was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with the MAGE common primers designed to detect MAGE A1-6 genes was conducted with sputa of 17 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 17 sputa specimens from patients with squamous cell carcinoma, MAGE mRNA was detected in 13 cases, while the detection rate was 2 out of 40 in the normal control group, showing significant correlation (p<0.05) between head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and MAGE mRNA expression in sputa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MAGE may be a useful tumor marker of head and neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Busan, Korea. kdlee@ns.kosinmed.or.kr
authors.forename: Kang Dae
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hwan Ho
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho Bum
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Hyoung Shin
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tai Hyun
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Hee Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chang Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Jong Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger