Expression of MAGE-B genes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The MAGE-B (MAGE-B1, -B2, -B3, and -B4) genes share strong homology with th e MAGE-A gene family. MAGE-B1 and -B2 encode common tumor-specific peptide antigens. There is, however still vera little information about the express ion of these genes in human gastro-intestinal carcinomas. we investigated t he expression of MAGE-B1 and -B2 genes in 29 cell lines and 53 clinical tum or samples of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by reverse transcription p olymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). MAGE-B1 and -B2 gene transcripts were de tected by RT-PCR in 1 (3%) and 6 (21%) cell lines, and in 9 (17%) and 17 (3 2%) clinical samples, respectively. Among them, 7/29 (24%) cell lines and 1 9/53 (36%) clinical samples expressed at least either MIIGE-B1 or -B2. A si gnificant correlation was found between negative MAGE-B gene expression and vascular invasion (P=0.008). In 45 out of 53 esophageal carcinoma RNA samp les, the MAGE-A1, -A2, and -A3 genes were detected in 27 (60%), 23 (51%), a nd 30 (67%) samples, respectively, while the MAGE-B genes were detected in 18 (40%) samples. The frequency af MAGE-B gene expression in esophageal car cinoma was relatively higher than that observed for gastric or colorectal c arcinomas (12% and 2%, respectively). Therefore, the MAGE-B genes could be used as targets in specific immunotherapy of esophageal squamous cell carci nomas.