A multimarker real-time RT-PCR for MAGE-A gene expression allows sensitive detection and quantification of the minimal systemic tumor load in patients with localized cancer.
BACKGROUND
Distant metastases of solid tumors are usually associated with fatal outcome. Disseminated cancer cells are considered early indicators of metastasis. Their sensitive detection and quantification would be a valuable tool for staging of disease and as guidance for therapeutic decisions.


METHODS
We established a highly sensitive and quantitative multimarker real-time RT-PCR assay for amplification of cancer-related genes MAGE-A1, -A2, -A3/6, -A4, -A10 and -A12 using SYBR green I to detect one single tumor cell in 2 mL of blood or bone marrow. The feasibility of the assay was tested in a large cohort of 177 patients with locally confined prostate carcinoma.


RESULTS
Analysis revealed frequent MAGE expression in venous blood and bilateral bone marrow samples (25.5% of all cases) and yielded the first quantitative profile of MAGE expression with a broad range of transcript concentrations for individual markers in the minimal systemic tumor load of patients with localized cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Rare transcripts of different MAGE-A genes can be quantified in clinical samples of cancer patients by a sensitive multimarker real-time RT-PCR. Because of frequent expression of MAGE genes in various types of cancer the multimarker MAGE real-time RT-PCR may be generally useful for detection, quantification and characterization of the individual disseminated tumor load in cancer patients.
Mecklenburg
Ingo
I
Institute of Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. ingo.mecklenburg@med.uni-muenchen.de
Weckermann
Dorothea
D
Zippelius
Alfred
A
Schoberth
Alexandra
A
Petersen
Stephanie
S
Prang
Nadja
N
Riethmüller
Gert
G
Kufer
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D047368:Tumor Burden
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C119317:MAGE-A10 antigen; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm