RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the expression of MAGE gene and human papillomavirus (HPV) 16, 18 type in patients with cervical neoplasia using in exfoliated cervical cells. METHODS: The expression of common MAGE gene (MAGE 1 to 6) in cervical scraps was studied by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 12 normal control patient and 48 patients with abnormal cytologic results. In all 60 patients, colposcopic directed biopsy and HPV test by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done. RESULTS: The pathologic results of 60 patients was 12 cervicitis, 37 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (14 LSIL, 23 HSIL), and 11 invasive squamous cell carcinomas. No expression of common MAGE gene was detected in 12 cervical scraps of cervicitis. The common MAGE gene of LSIL, HSIL and invasive squamous cell carcinomas was expressed in two (14.3%), seventeen (73.9%), ten (90.9%) respectively. HPV type 16 or 18 was detected in 1 cervicitis, 5 LSIL, 20 HSIL and 10 invasive squamous cell carcinoma. In 51 patients (85%), the HPV test result and the common MAGE gene expression showed coincident results. CONCLUSION: This result suggests common MAGE gene might be potential tumor marker in cervical neoplasia and adjuvant test of the Papanicolaou smear.