title: The expression of MAGE and SSX, and correlation of COX2, VEGF, and survivin in colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the expression of melanoma-associated antigen gene (MAGE), human synovial sarcoma on X chromosome (SSX) and their clinical implications in sporadic colon cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresh tissue samples from 37 patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas were analyzed for MAGE and SSX mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and their paraffin-embedded tissues were used for immunohistochemistry for cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and survivin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of MAGE and SSX was not detected in normal tissues. Colon cancer expressed SSX in 32.4% and MAGE in 51.4% of cases. Co-expression of MAGE and SSX was directly correlated with liver metastasis (p=0.024) and also correlated with nuclear expression of survivin (p=0.016), yet did not correlate with expression of COX2 and VEGF. Nuclear survivin expression (83.3%) was found in the cancer tissues exclusively. No significant relationships between the expression of COX2 (73.9%) and VEGF (72.4%) and other clinicopathologic variables were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that nuclear expression of survivin, lymph node metastasis, vascular and perineural invasion, and co-expression of MAGE and SSX may be associated with the metastasis of colorectal cancer to the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology. Kosin University Gospel Hospital, 34 Amnam-Dong, Suh-Ku, Busan, 602-702, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jongsoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Heekyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000077022:Survivin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000077022:Survivin; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C093962:synovial sarcoma X breakpoint proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2