Objective: To observe the expression of MAGE-1 MAGE-3 genes and MAGE-3 gene product in renal and urinary bladder tumor, and to explore the possibility of MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 genes encoding proteins or MAGE-3 gene product used as a target for immunotherapy in renal and urinary bladder tumor patients.
Methods: Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 genes was performed using 39 renal and urinary bladder tumor specimens. Immunohistochemical technique for MAGE-3 antigen was performed using formal infixed paraffin embedded section of 121 renal and urinary bladder tumor specimens.
Results: MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNAs were detected in 23(59.0%) and 22(56.4%) of 39 patients with renal and urinary bladder tumor without expression in 10 tumor surrounding tissues.MAGE-3 antigen was detected in 56(46.3%) of 121 patients with renal and urinary bladder tumor without expression in 10 tumor surrounding tissues. The expression rates of MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNA and MAGE-3 gene product were significantly higher in renal and urinary bladder tumors tissues than in tumor surrounding tissues. The frequency of MAGE-3 gene product expression was examined according to clinical stage and differentiation of histopathology. The results revealed no significant differences in MAGE gene product expression among the clinical stage and the grade of differentiation of histopathology according to Logistic Regression test(P>0.05).
Conclusion: The tumor-specific antigens might be used as molecular markers and targets for human renal and urinary bladder tumor.