Expression of MAGE, GAGE, and BAGE genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the expression of MAGE, GAGE and BAGE genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression levels of MAGE-1, MAGE-3, GAGE1-8, GAGE1-2 and BAGE mRNAs in HCC cell lines SMMC-7721, QQY-7701, BEL-7402 were studied by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and were compared with those in biopsied liver tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MAGE-1 and BAGE mRNAs were expressed in SMMC-7721 cells. MAGE-3 and BAGE mRNAs were expressed in QQY-7701 cells. MAGE-1 and GAGE1-2 mRNAs were expressed in BEL-7402 cells. None of these genes was expressed in biopsied liver tissues.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MAGE-1, MAGE-3, GAGE1-8, GAGE1-2 and BAGE are expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. These tumor-specific antigens can be used as molecular markers for early diagnosis and possible targets for immunotherapy of human HCC.</p>