RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 MAGE-A Gene Expression Pattern in Primary Breast Cancer JF Cancer Research JO Cancer Res FD American Association for Cancer Research SP 6682 OP 6687 VO 61 IS 18 A1 Otte, Marcus A1 Zafrakas, Menelaos A1 Riethdorf, Lutz A1 Pichlmeier, Uwe A1 Löning, Thomas A1 Jänicke, Fritz A1 Pantel, Klaus YR 2001 UL http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/61/18/6682.abstract AB Melanoma antigen (MAGE)-A-derived peptides elicit a strong in vitro T-cell response against tumor cells. For determination of MAGE-A1, -2, -3, -4, -6, and -12 expression profile in invasive breast cancer, we developed a multiplex seminested reverse transcription-PCR-method. In total, 18 of 67 (27%) tumors were positive for at least one of these MAGE transcripts, and the expression pattern was heterogeneous: MAGE-A1 was positive in 4 of 67 (6%), MAGE-A2 in 13 of 67 (19%), MAGE-A3 in 7 of 67 (10%), MAGE-A4 in 9 of 67 (13%), MAGE-A6 in 10 of 67 (15%), and MAGE-A12 in 6 of 67 (9%) patients. The MAGE-A transcripts were more frequently expressed in ductal breast carcinomas compared with other histomorphological types. We observed a preferential expression of MAGE-A in patients at a higher risk of recurrence: those harboring tumors with high levels of the protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its inhibitor plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, high score of the Ki-67 proliferation antigen, and lesser degree of differentiation. Our findings suggests a potential involvement of MAGE-A in tumor progression, with potential implications for active immunotherapy. ©2001 American Association for Cancer Research.