ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We have reported that the expression of MAGE gene is specific to the mRNA level or protein level in head and neck cancer tissues. In this study, we investigated the applicability of MAGE gene to molecular diagnosis of head and neck cancer by detecting MAGE mRNA with common MAGE primers in sputa of patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Nested RT-PCR with MAGE common primers were designed by authors and were performed to detect MAGE 1, 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, and 6 (MAGE A1-6) genes in sputa obtained from 22 cancer patients (17 squamous cell carcinoma of laryngopharynx, 2 lung metastsis after surgery for tongue and hypopharyngeal cancer, 2 neck metastasis from primary lung cancer, and 1 case of sarcoma of hypopharynx) and 40 normal persons. RESULTS: Of 17 sputa from squamous cell carcinoma patients, expression of MAGE mRNA was positive in 13 (76.5%) cases. MAGE was detected in 72.7% (8/11) of laryngeal cancer, 50% (1/2) of base of tongue cancer, and 100% in hypopharyngeal (2/2) and tonsillar cancer. According to T stage, T1, T2, T3, T4 was positive in 50% (2/4), 100% (5/5), 66.6% (2/3), and 80% (4/5) respectively. In case of primary lung cancer, metastatic lung cancer, and hypopharyngeal sarcoma, all expressed MAGE mRNA. Among 22 cancer patients, 81.8% (18/22) were positive. MAGE expression was detected in 5% (2/40) of the normal control. CONCLUSION: Nested RT-PCR with common MAGE primers was helpful for assessing the presence of cancer cell in the sputa of the respiratory tract. This examination can be used as a tumor marker for the screening of laryngopharyngeal cancers and early detection of recurrent cancers or lung metastasis after treatment.