Expression of MAGE-A3 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and its precursor lesions.

Abstract

MAGE-A3 antigen is known to be neo-expressed in a large proportion of tumors but not detectable in normal tissues, and could be a target antigen recognized by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In the present study, the expression of MAGE-A3 at protein and mRNA levels was examined in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and its precursor lesions. Carcinomatous and dysplastic biliary cells expressed MAGE-A3 in their cytoplasm diffusely, although there was no MAGE-A3 expression in normal and hyperplastic biliary cells. MAGE-A3 was expressed in one of 10 cases (10%) of low-grade dysplasia, four of 13 (31%) cases of high-grade dysplasia/in situ carcinoma, and 32 of 68 invasive ICC cases (47%), respectively. The MAGE-A3 mRNA expression pattern was similar to that of MAGE-A3 protein. The incidence and intensity of MAGE-A3 expression increased along the progression of biliary neoplasia (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between MAGE-3 expression and histological differentiation or anatomical locations of invasive ICC. MAGE-A3 is a promising target molecule for the specific immunotherapy of ICC.

• Authors: Koichi Tsuneyama, Motoko Sasaki, Tomonori Shimonishi, Yasuni Nakanuma
• Journal: Pathology international (Pathol Int) Vol. 54 Issue 3 Pg. 181-6 (Mar 2004) ISSN: 1320-5463 [Print] Australia
• PMID: 14989741 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• MAGEA3 protein, human
• Neoplasm Proteins
• RNA, Messenger

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antigens, Neoplasm (biosynthesis)
• Bile Duct Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic (metabolism, pathology)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Cholangiocarcinoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• In Situ Hybridization
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Proteins (biosynthesis)
• Precancerous Conditions (metabolism, pathology)
• RNA, Messenger