PAGE-1, AN X-CHROMOSOME-LINKED GAUGE-LIKE GENE THAT IS EXPRESSED IN NORMAL AND NEOPLASTIC PROSTATE, TESTIS, AND UTERUS

We have used a combination of computerized database mining and experim ental expression analyses to identify a gene that is preferentially ex pressed in normal male and female reproductive tissues, prostate, test is, fallopian tube, uterus, and placenta, as well as in prostate cance r, testicular cancer, and uterine cancer. This gene is located on the human X chromosome, and it is homologous to a family of genes encoding GAGE-like proteins. GAGE proteins are expressed in a variety of tumor s and in testis. We designate the novel gene PAGE-1 because the expres sion pattern in the Cancer Genome Anatomy Project libraries indicates that it is predominantly expressed in normal and neoplastic prostate. Further database analysis indicates the presence of other genes with h igh homology to PAGE-1, which were found in cDNA libraries derived fro m testis, pooled libraries (with testis), and in a germ cell tumor lib rary. The expression of PAGE-1 in normal and malignant prostate, testi cular, and uterine tissues makes it a possible target for the diagnosi s and possibly for the vaccine-based therapy of neoplasms of prostate, testis, and uterus.