title: Melanoma-associated antigen genes: a new trend to predict the prognosis of breast cancer patients.
abstract: MAGE-A are normally expressed in testis and placenta. Among MAGEs, the MAGE-A subtype has been the most characterized in cancers. Our study was conducted to assess the expression of (MAGE-A1-MAGE-A6) m-RNA using MMRPs and MAGE-A12 m-RNA in blood for evaluating their clinical implications in breast cancer patients. RT-PCR was carried out to detect the expression of (MAGE-A1-MAGE-A6) m-RNA using MMRPs and MAGE-A12 m-RNA in blood. The study included 100 breast cancer cases aged 41-62 years and 100 controls aged 36-53 years. MAGE m-RNA expression was not detected in healthy donors. In breast cancer patients, the positivity of (MAGE-A1-MAGE-A6) m-RNA was 44 % (44 cases), while MAGE-A12 m-RNA was expressed in 13 % (13 cases). The gene expressions of MAGE-A1-A6 and MAGE-A12 were significantly associated with advanced TNM stages (P = 0.001 and 0.034, respectively). Simultaneous estimation of the gene expressions of MAGE-A1-A6 and MAGE-A12 can detect occult hematogenous dissemination of tumor cells and may help to monitor the effectiveness of the therapy and the development of effective immunotherapeutic strategies in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt, doctoreman1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eman Abd-Elkader
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Abd-Elsalam
authors.forename: Nadia A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ismaeil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; C409589:MAGEA12 protein, human; C095203:MAGEA6 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins