Melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) expression in the normal mucosa around colorectal cancer after curative resection: presence of undetectable free cancer cells?

• Published in: The International journal of biological markers Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 88 - 93
• Main Authors: JEON, Chang-Ho, KIM, Dae-Dong, LEE, Han-Ii, OH, Hoon-Kyu, CHAE, Hyun-Dong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Milano Wichtig 01.04.2011
• Subjects: Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Antigens, Neoplasm - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - surgery; DNA Methylation; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases - genetics; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Melanoma-Specific Antigens - genetics; Molecular biophysics; Mucous Membrane - metabolism; Mucous Membrane - pathology; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasm Staging; Rectal disease; Tumor associated antigen; Free form; Mucosa; Melanoma associated antigen; Colorectal cancer; Surgical resection; Biochemistry; Tumoral marker; Malignant tumor; Normal; Colonic disease; Free cancer cells; Clinical biology; Normal mucosa; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Molecular biology; Tumor cell; Cancer; MAGE expression
• ISSN: 0393-6155; 1724-6008
• DOI: 10.5301/JBM.2011.8320

Curative surgical resection is of great importance and some trials have been performed to identify free undetectable cancer cells using molecular markers. The aim of this study is to investigate melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) expression in normal mucosa around colorectal cancer and its clinical significance.? From October 2003 to June 2004, we collected 46 colorectal cancer and matched normal mucosal tissues within 20 mm, 20 to 50 mm and more than 50 mm from tumors after the curative operation. Twenty-two mucosal tissues were harvested from patients with benign colorectal diseases as controls. MAGE expression was assayed using nested RT-PCR of MAGE A1-6 mRNA.? The MAGE expression rates in cancer tissue and adjacent normal mucosa were 65.2%, 6.5% (<20 mm), 2.2% (20-50 mm) and 0.0% (>50 mm), respectively, while MAGE was not expressed in the mucosa of benign diseases. The MAGE-positive cases in the normal mucosa around tumors were located in the left colon or rectum, and one patient showed anastomotic mucosal site recurrence.? MAGE expression in normal-appearing mucosa around colorectal cancer showed some clinical findings suggesting the presence of undetectable free cancer cells after curative resection.