原发性肝癌患者外周血AFP mRNA和MAGE-1mRNA水平的联合检测与术后复发转移的关系

目的寻找一种敏感的用于早期发现原发性肝癌患者术后复发与转移的检测方法.方法应用巢式逆转录聚合酶链反应(nested RT-PCR)分别在术前、术后1周和术后两个月检测85例行根治性切除的原发性肝癌患者外周血中MAGE-1 mRNA和AFP mRNA的表达.结果外周血中MAGE-1 mRNA和(或)AFP mRNA的阳性率与肿瘤的病理分期呈正相关:肿瘤病期越晚,外周血中微转移灶的检出率越高(P<0.01).1年的随访中,有23例患者出现复发,MAGE-1和(或)AFP mRNA的阳性率为78.3%(18/23),而62例无复发患者阳性率为46.8%(29/62),二者比较差异有显著性(P<0.01).复发患者中,15例外周血中MAGE-1 mRNA和(或)AFP mRNA持续阳性,5例术前阴性者分别于术后5个月及8个月转为阳性,另外3例术前、术后均保持阴性.经术后1年随访,无肿瘤复发的62例患者中有24例MAGE-1 mRNA和(或)AFP mRNA由术前阳性转为术后阴性.AFP mRNA阳性率与血浆AFP水平呈正相关(P<0.01),MAGE-1 mRNA阳性率与血浆AFP水平无相关性(P>0.05).外周血AFP mRNA和MAGE-1 mRNA阳性率与肿瘤直径均无相关性(P>0.05).结论联合检测外周血MAGE-1和AFP mRNA的表达是早期发现肝癌术后复发、评估预后的一项敏感可信的指标.     

食管鳞癌中癌-睾丸抗原NY-ESO-1及MAGE-1的表达

目的研究NY-ESO-1及MAGE-1蛋白在食管鳞癌中的表达，分析其与肿瘤临床病理参数的关系，为食管癌的免疫治疗提供理论依据。方法构建组织芯片并结合免疫组化的方法，检测NY-ESO-1及MAGE-1蛋白在113例食管鳞癌及10例正常食管黏膜中的表达。结果10例正常食管黏膜均不表达NY-ESO-1及MAGE-1蛋白，而其在食管鳞癌组织芯片109例有效标本中的阳性率分别为29.4%和37.4%（32/109，41/109），阳性部位均位于细胞质。其中，59例至少表达1种CT抗原，占总数的54.1%（59/109），13例同时表达2种CT抗原，占11.9%（13/109）；NY-ESO-1及MAGE-1蛋白的表达主要集中在肿瘤细胞分化较好的I级和II级食管鳞癌，阳性率有显著性差异（P〈0.01），与肿瘤的大小，浸润深度及有无淋巴结转移无关（P〉0.05）。结论NY-ESO-1及MAGE-1可作为食管癌免疫治疗的靶标之一，含有CT抗原的疫苗可用于食管癌患者的免疫治疗。     

三种MAGE基因在广西肝细胞癌中的表达

目的检测癌-睾丸抗原(CTA)基因MAGE-1、-3和-4在广西地区肝细胞癌(HCC)中的表达,探讨CTA作为疫苗对HCC治疗的可行性.方法用逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)法对25例广西HCC患者癌组织中MAGE-1、-3和-4基因mRNA的表达进行检测;随机选择MAGE-1、-3和-4阳性的RT-PCR产物各2例进行DNA序列测定.结果 MAGE-1和-3表达率均为40%(10/25),MAGE-4表达率为16%(4/25).DNA测序结果表明RT-PCR产物为MAGE-1、-3和-4基因.统计学分析显示MAGE-1、-3和-4基因的表达与HCC组织分化程度及临床分期无相关性(P>0.05),与HBV感染有相关性(P<0.05);此外,MAGE-1和-3的表达与肿瘤大小及AFP水平均存在相关性(P<0.05).在所检测的标本中,56%的标本至少表达上述1种MAGE,24% 的标本至少表达2种MAGE;16% 的标本表达3种MAGE.结论 MAGE-1和-3在广西HCC中有一定频率的表达,能否用于HCC的免疫治疗值得深入探讨.     

竞争性RT-PCR定量检测AFP mRMA在肝癌组织中的表达

通过检测外周血AFP mRNA可确定原发性肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)表达高低与肝癌复发、转移及预后密切相关[1～3].本文建立了一种具有内参照的定量检测AFP mRNA的竞争性RT-PCR方法,并初步对肝癌组织及癌旁组织中AFP mRNA的表达进行定量分析,现报道如下.     

MAGE - 1 和 SCP - 1 在胃癌中的表达及相关性研究

目的：探讨肿瘤/睾丸抗原（cancer-testis antigen,CTA ）中MAGE-1、SCP-1在胃癌组织中表达情况及其意义.方法：采用微波EliVisionTM免疫组织化学法检测62例胃癌组织中MAGE-1、SCP-1的表达情况,并与42例正常胃黏膜组织（normal gastric mucose,NGM）进行比较.结果：胃癌组织中MAGE-1和SCP-1蛋白表达均定位于细胞浆,二者阳性率分别为70.97%（44/62）、32.26%（20/62）,在正常胃黏膜组织中不表达（P＜0.05）.MAGE-1、SCP-1的表达情况与有无淋巴结转移、胃癌的分化程度及病理分期有关 （P＜0.05）,相关性分析得出MAGE-1和SCP-1在胃癌组织中的表达情况存在一致性（P＜0.05）,二者之间表达呈正相关（P＜0.05）.结论：MAGE-1、SCP-1在胃癌中高表达,且在胃癌的发生、发展和转移过程中起到一定的作用.     

结直肠癌中黑色素瘤抗原基因mRNA的表达及意义

目的检测结直肠癌组织中黑色素瘤抗原基因MAGE-1、3和4的表达,探讨其在结直肠癌免疫治疗及作为免疫分子标志物的可行性。方法采用RT-PCR方法,检测65例结直肠癌组织和相应正常粘膜组织中MAGE-1、3和4的mRNA表达,并对PCR扩增产物进行DNA测序验证。结果65例结直肠癌组织标本中,53.8%(35/65)的患者至少表达一种MAGE基因。MAGE-1、3、4mRNA表达率分别是18.5%(12/65)、33.9%(22/65)和20%(13/65),表达任意两种或以上的MAGE基因的标本为27.7%(18/65),而相应正常粘膜组织均未检测到上述基因的表达。DNA测序结果表明RT-PCR产物确为目的基因片段。MAGE基因表达与患者的年龄(除外MAGE-1,P=0.011)、性别、CEA、肿瘤大小和位置、组织分化程度、淋巴结转移、肿瘤浸润深度及TNM分期无关(P>0.05)。结论结直肠癌中MAGE-3可作为肿瘤疫苗的备选基因和免疫学检测的分子标志物,具有作为肿瘤免疫治疗特异性靶位的潜在价值,而MAGE-1,4因表达率低限制了其应用价值。     

黑色素瘤抗原基因MAGE-1、MAGE-3和抑癌基因p53在肺癌中表达的研究

目的:分析肺癌组织MAGE-1和MAGE-3基因以及p53基因表达及其相互关系。方法:取肺癌组织标本30例,另取癌周组织作为对照。采用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)方法,检测MAGE-1和MAGE-3基因以及p53基因的表达。结果:MAGE-1,MAGE-3在肺癌中有较高表达,MAGE-3的表达高于MAGE-1的表达。p53在肺癌中表达较低,在正常组织中表达较高;MAGE-1在肺腺癌中表达较鳞癌高,MAGE-3在肺鳞癌中表达较高;MAGE-1,MAGE-3的表达可能与肿瘤分化程度无关;p53在小细胞肺癌中的表达有待进一步研究;p53与MAGE在体内表达成负相关。结论:MAGE-1、MAGE-3和p53在肺癌组织与正常组织中有不同的表达,MAGE-1、MAGE-3的表达与病理类型有关,与肿瘤分化无关。     

竞争性RT—PCR定量检测AFP mRNA在肝癌组织中的表达

通过检测外周血AFP mRNA可确定原发性肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma，HCC)表达高低与肝癌复发、转移及预后密切相关^[1-3]。本文建立了一种具有内参照的定量检测AFP mRNA的竞争性RT-PCR方法，并初步对肝癌组织及癌旁组织中AFP mRNA的表达进行定量分析，现报道如下。     

肝细胞癌高表达中期因子与肝癌细胞血行播散的关系

目的:探讨肝细胞癌(Hepatocellular Carcinoma,HCC)中期因子(Midkine,MK)蛋白高表达与肝癌细胞血行播散的可能关系.方法:应用RT-PCR和免疫组织化学染色方法分别检测AFP阳性HCC患者术前外周血AFP mRNA和手术切除肝癌组织MK蛋白,了解肝癌细胞血行播散和MK表达的情况,分析两者之间的相关性.结果:在41例HCC患者中,18例术前外周血可检出AFP mRNA,检出率为43.9%.在对应的肝癌组织中,29例高表达MK,表达率为70.7%.在29例高表达MK的HCC患者中,18例术前外周血AFP mRNA阳性,阳性率为62.1%:而在12例MK低表达的HCC患者中,仅3例术前外周血AFP mRNA阳性,阳性率为25.0%.两组之间差异有显著性(R＜0.05).结论:肝癌组织异常表达MK与外周血循环中存在肿瘤细胞有关,可能是肝癌细胞转移潜能的一个指标.     

Elevation of Serum MAGE-4 Protein Levels and Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinogenesis in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is clinically important because advanced HCC limits treatment modalities for the cancer. We have previously reported that serum levels of MAGE-4 protein are strongly associated with the development of HCC. The present study was designed to determine whether elevated serum MAGE-4 protein levels can predict hepatocellular carcinogenesis in patients with liver cirrhosis before clinical diagnosis. Among 62 cirrhotic patients, 28 patients were diagnosed with HCC during the follow-up period. The levels of MAGE-4 protein and a-fetoprotein (AFP) were significantly elevated in cirrhotic patients with HCC. Univariate and multivariate analyses suggest that elevated serum MAGE-4 protein is more significant than AFP. Importantly, retrospective analysis of prefrozen sera of cirrhotic patients revealed a transient or continuous elevation of serum MAGE-4 protein levels in 14 of 28 cirrhotic patients with HCC (50%) before clinical diagnosis. In contrast, elevated serum MAGE-4 protein levels were observed in 3 of 33 cirrhotic patients without HCC (9%), and in 2 of 34 hepatitic patients (6%). These results indicate that elevated serum MAGE-4 protein levels can be a predictive marker of hepatocellular carcinogenesis in cirrhotic patients, thereby enabling us to treat patients at an earlier stage.     

Detection of MAGE-4 Protein in the Sera of Patients with Hepatitis-C Virus-associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Liver Cirrhosis

The aim of this study was to determine whether MAGE-4 protein is detectable in sera of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and other liver diseases. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed for detection of MAGE-4 protein in sera of liver disease patients, healthy men and women (control I) and those undergoing prostatic cancer screening (control II). MAGE-4 protein levels in sera of patients with hepatitis C virus-associated HCC (HCC-C) ( n =45, mean=2.160 ng/ml) and HCV-associated cirrhosis (LC-C) ( n = 55, 1.072 ng/ml) were significantly higher ( P < 0.0001) than those of control I (0.327 ng/ml) or control II (0.394 ng/ml). MAGE-4 protein was positive in 21/45 (46.7%) HCC-C patients and 18/55 (32.7%) LC-C patients (cut-off, mean plus 2 SD in healthy controls) but in 0/12 (0%) hepatitis B virus-associated HCC (HCC-B) patients, 3/49 (6.1%) hepatitis B virus-associated LC (LC-B) patients, 4/47 (8.5%) alcoholic liver disease patients, and 1/49 (2.0%) controls. Serum MAGE-4 protein level may be useful as a marker for identification of LC-C patients suffering from HCC that is undetectable by presently available methods.     

Elevation of serum MAGE-4 protein levels and prediction of hepatocellular carcinogenesis in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is clinically important because advanced HCC limits treatment modalities for the cancer. We have previously reported that serum levels of MAGE-4 protein are strongly associated with the development of HCC. The present study was designed to determine whether elevated serum MAGE-4 protein levels can predict hepatocellular carcinogenesis in patients with liver cirrhosis before clinical diagnosis. Among 62 cirrhotic patients, 28 patients were diagnosed with HCC during the follow-up period. The levels of MAGE-4 protein and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were significantly elevated in cirrhotic patients with HCC. Univariate and multivariate analyses suggest that elevated serum MAGE-4 protein is more significant than AFP. Importantly, retrospective analysis of prefrozen sera of cirrhotic patients revealed a transient or continuous elevation of serum MAGE-4 protein levels in 14 of 28 cirrhotic patients with HCC (50%) before clinical diagnosis. In contrast, elevated serum MAGE-4 protein levels were observed in 3 of 33 cirrhotic patients without HCC (9%), and in 2 of 34 hepatitic patients (6%). These results indicate that elevated serum MAGE-4 protein levels can be a predictive marker of hepatocellular carcinogenesis in cirrhotic patients, thereby enabling us to treat patients at an earlier stage.     

Monoclonal antibody MA454 reveals a heterogeneous expression pattern of MAGE-1 antigen in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded lung tumours

Cancer/testis (CT) antigens such as those encoded by the MAGE-gene family are expressed in a wide variety of malignant neoplasms. In normal tissues, expression is generally restricted to testis. Current knowledge of the expression pattern of CT antigens is mainly based on mRNA analysis. Little is known about actual protein expression. We previously developed MA454, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to MAGE-1 recombinant protein. By employing antigen retrieval techniques, we show that MA454 is reactive on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of a normal tissue panel revealed staining solely in germ cells of testes. A series of 59 lung tumours was co-typed for MAGE-1 expression by RT-PCR and by immunohistochemistry with MA454. MA454 was positive in 19/59 cases (32%). MAGE-1 mRNA was found in 17 of the 54 cases (32%) available for RT-PCR. Of the 19 MA454-reactive tumours, 15 showed a highly heterogeneous pattern of expression. The other 4 MA454 positive cases revealed immunoreactivity in >25% of tumour areas. Of the 53 cases typed for both, mRNA and protein expression, 48 co-typed whereas 5 cases were discrepant, a likely consequence of heterogeneous MAGE-1 expression. The predominantly focal expression of MAGE-1 suggests that this antigen might not be sufficient as a sole target for immunotherapeutic approaches.