Detection of MAGE-1, MAGE-3 and AFP mRNA as multimarker by real-time quantitative PCR assay: a possible predictor of hematogenous micrometastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between MAGE-1, MAGE-3 and AFP mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and micrometastasis in circulation, real-time quantitative-PCR (real-time Q-PCR) assay was applied to detect the expression of the multimarker.


METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 86 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and real-time Q-PCR technique was used to detect the MAGE-1, MAGE-3, and AFP mRNA in the blood.


RESULTS
In 86 tumor specimens, the positivity for MAGE-1, MAGE-3, and AFP genes was 34.9% (30/86), 60.5% (52/86) and 69.8%(60/86) respectively, and all specimens expressed at least one marker. MAGE-1, MAGE-3, and AFP transcripts were detected in 12 (14.0%),18 (20.1%) and 29 (33.7%) of 86 blood specimens from hepatocellular carcinoma patients, respectively, while 45 specimens (52.3%) were positive for at least one marker. In addition, MAGE-1, MAGE-3 and AFP gene transcripts were not detected in any peripheral blood specimens from 25 chronic liver disease patients and 28 normal healthy volunteers. The positive rate correlated with the TNM clinical stages, extrahepatic metastasis and portal vein carcinothrombosis (p<0.05). No correlation was found between tumor size, tumor number, differentiation, serum a-fetoprotein (AFP) and the positive rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that a multimarker real-time Q-PCR assay with cancer-specific markers such as MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 in combination with a hepatocyte-specific AFP marker may be a promising diagnostic tool for monitoring hepato-cellular carcinoma patients with better sensitivity and specificity.
Zhang
Yuqing
Y
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Li
Qiang
Q
Liu
Ning
N
Song
Tianqiang
T
Liu
Zhisheng
Z
Guo
Rende
R
Meng
Lingxin
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins