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MAGE antigen expression in monophasic and biphasic synovial sarcoma
Cristina R Antonescu1, Klaus J Busam, Kristin Iversen
1Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Human Pathology
|April 17, 2002
Summary
MAGE antigens are frequently expressed in synovial sarcomas, a type of cancer. This finding suggests MAGE antigens could be a target for new immunotherapies against synovial sarcoma.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Synovial sarcomas are high-grade malignant mesenchymal tumors.
- They are characterized by a specific chromosomal translocation, t(X;18).
- Cancer/testis (CT) antigens are expressed in tumors but not normal tissues (except germ cells).
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze MAGE antigen expression in synovial sarcomas using immunohistochemistry.
- To correlate MAGE expression with sarcoma morphology and genetic subtypes.
- To evaluate MAGE as a potential immunotherapy target.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry with anti-MAGE monoclonal antibody (mAb) 57B.
- Analysis of 25 synovial sarcoma cases (12 monophasic, 13 biphasic).
- Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine SYT-SSX fusion transcript type (SYT-SSX1 or SYT-SSX2).
Main Results:
- MAGE expression (57B immunoreactivity) was observed in 88% (22/25) of synovial sarcomas.
- Antigen expression was homogeneous in 14 of 22 positive cases.
- MAGE expression occurred in both monophasic and biphasic variants and in both SYT-SSX1 and SYT-SSX2 translocation types.
Conclusions:
- MAGE antigens are frequently and homogeneously expressed across synovial sarcoma subtypes.
- Synovial sarcomas represent a promising target for MAGE antigen-based immunotherapy.
- Further research into MAGE-targeted therapies for synovial sarcoma is warranted.