The MRNA Expression And Clinical Significance Of Cancer-testis Antigen GAGE Gene In Hepatocellular Carcinona

Objective: To investigate the mRNA expression of cancer testis antigen GAGE gene in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Methods: With Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), 40 cases of HCC tissue and the corresponding adjacent non-HCC tissue were tested respectively, and statistical analysis was performed. Two specimens were randomly selected among those PCR positive specimens of GAGE and sequenced. Results: The positive expression rate of GAGE gene mRNA was significantly higher in the tumor tissue than in the corresponding adjacent non-HCC tissue (40% VS 5%, P < 0.01). The results of cDNA sequence confirmed that the RT-PCR products were match to GAGE (-1, -2 and -8) cDNA. The expression of GAGE showed no correlation with patient's age, tumor size, pathological degree, clinical stage, serum a-Fetoprotein level and infection of hepatitis B Virus (P>0.05). Conclusion: The specific expression of GAGE in HCC suggestedthat GAGE might be used in immunotherapy of HCC.