BACKGROUND: Melanoma antigen genes (MAGE genes) are tumor specific genes. In this study the expressions of MAGE-1, -2, -3 and -4 genes in lymph nodes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at mRNA level were investigated and the role of MAGE genes was analyzed in the diagnosis of occult micrometastasis in lymph nodes of patients with NSCLC. METHODS: One hundred and eleven stations of lymph nodes from 53 patients with NSCLC were studied to detect mRNA for MAGE-1, -2, -3 and -4 genes by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. RESULTS: The expression rate in samples of lymph nodes using RT-PCR (41.4%, 46/111) was significantly higher than that using routine histopathological examination (27.9%, 31/111). Of the 80 stations of lymph nodes without invasion of the tumor confirmed by routine histopathological examination, at least one of these genes was expressed in (23.8%) (19/80) out of the samples. Of the 31 stations of lymph nodes with invasion of the tumor confirmed by routine histopathological examination, at least one of these MAGE genes was expressed in 87.1% (27/31) out of the samples. In the lymph nodes of the patients with non-cancerous diseases, the MAGE-1, -2, -3 and -4 were not expressed at mRNA level. CONCLUSIONS: Micrometastasis in lymph nodes of patients with NSCLC could be diagnosed by investigating the expressions of MAGE genes at mRNA level. Detection of MAGE-1, (-2,) -3 and -4 might be helpful to diagnoze micrometastasis in lymph node and to increase the accuracy of TNM stages in NSCLC.
BACKGROUND:Melanoma antigen genes (MAGE genes) are tumor specific genes. In this study the expressions of MAGE-1, -2, -3 and -4 genes in lymph nodes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at mRNA level were investigated and the role of MAGE genes was analyzed in the diagnosis of occult micrometastasis in lymph nodes of patients with NSCLC. METHODS: One hundred and eleven stations of lymph nodes from 53 patients with NSCLC were studied to detect mRNA for MAGE-1, -2, -3 and -4 genes by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. RESULTS: The expression rate in samples of lymph nodes using RT-PCR (41.4%, 46/111) was significantly higher than that using routine histopathological examination (27.9%, 31/111). Of the 80 stations of lymph nodes without invasion of the tumor confirmed by routine histopathological examination, at least one of these genes was expressed in (23.8%) (19/80) out of the samples. Of the 31 stations of lymph nodes with invasion of the tumor confirmed by routine histopathological examination, at least one of these MAGE genes was expressed in 87.1% (27/31) out of the samples. In the lymph nodes of the patients with non-cancerous diseases, the MAGE-1, -2, -3 and -4 were not expressed at mRNA level. CONCLUSIONS: Micrometastasis in lymph nodes of patients with NSCLC could be diagnosed by investigating the expressions of MAGE genes at mRNA level. Detection of MAGE-1, (-2,) -3 and -4 might be helpful to diagnoze micrometastasis in lymph node and to increase the accuracy of TNM stages in NSCLC.