Chen C H, Huang G T, Lee H S, Yang P M, Yan M D, Chen D S, Sheu J C
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, Taipei.
Liver. 1999 Apr;19(2):110-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.1999.tb00019.x.
AIMS/BACKGROUND: Activation of human MAGE genes leads to the expression of a set of tumor rejection antigens, which are recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The antigens may become the targets of immunotherapy. The expression of MAGE genes was originally found in, but is not restricted, to melanomas. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of MAGE genes in human hepatocellular carcinomas.
The expression of MAGE-1, -2, -3, -4 genes in tumorous and corresponding non-tumorous liver tissue was studied using a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.
In the 50 hepatocellular carcinomas studied, MAGE-1, -2, -3, -4 mRNA expression was detected in 23 (46%), 17 (34%), 21 (42%) and 8 (16%), respectively. Seventy-four percent of the hepatocellular carcinomas expressed at least one of the MAGE genes. MAGE mRNAs were not detected in the corresponding non-tumor liver tissues. MAGE gene expression was not significantly correlated with clinicopathological factors.
The MAGE genes are expressed in a high percentage of hepatocellular carcinomas; the MAGE gene products are potential targets for tumor-specific immunotherapy.
目的/背景：人类MAGE基因的激活会导致一组肿瘤排斥抗原的表达，这些抗原可被细胞毒性T淋巴细胞识别。这些抗原可能成为免疫治疗的靶点。MAGE基因的表达最初是在黑色素瘤中发现的，但并不局限于此。本研究的目的是调查MAGE基因在人类肝细胞癌中的表达情况。
采用逆转录聚合酶链反应研究肿瘤及相应非肿瘤肝脏组织中MAGE-1、-2、-3、-4基因的表达。
在研究的50例肝细胞癌中，MAGE-1、-2、-3、-4 mRNA的表达分别在23例（46%）、17例（34%）、21例（42%）和8例（16%）中检测到。74%的肝细胞癌表达至少一种MAGE基因。在相应的非肿瘤肝脏组织中未检测到MAGE mRNA。MAGE基因表达与临床病理因素无显著相关性。
MAGE基因在高比例的肝细胞癌中表达；MAGE基因产物是肿瘤特异性免疫治疗的潜在靶点。
