Expression of melanoma antigen-encoding gene-1 predicts lymph node involvement iri early gastric carcinomas

Our previous study suggested that melanoma antigen-encoding gene-1 may be a ctivated in gastric carcinomas when the tumors develop or invade. In the pr esent work we studied the gene as a preoperative indicator of lymph node in volvement in early gastric carcinoma. We used a reverse transcription-polym erase chain reaction to analyze expression of the gene in 47 endoscopic bio psy specimens from early gastric carcinomas. Relationships between gene exp ression and histopathologic findings were analyzed statistically. Eight of 47 tumor samples (17.0%) expressed the gene. The gene was not expressed in adjacent nontumor samples from carcinoma patients or in tissues from patien ts with benign gastric diseases. Gene expression correlated with infiltrati ve tumor growth in contrast to tumors with expansive growth patterns (P = 0 .018). Gene expression also correlated with expression of platelet-derived growth factor-A (P < 0.001). MAGE-1 gene expression in biopsy specimens was a preoperative indicator of nodal involvement (P = 0.013). In conclusion, melanoma antigen-encoding gene-1 expression in biopsy specimens from early gastric carcinoma may serve preoperatively gene-1 as an indicator of lymph node involvement.