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Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Induction of Invasive Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma in Immune Intact Human MUC1 Transgenic Mice: A Model for Immunotherapy Development
Published on: October 30, 2013
[Expression of melanoma antigen gene in urinary transitional cell carcinomas]
Lin Geng1, Li-zhang Yu, Peng Du
1Department of Urology, First Hospital of Peking University, Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Objective:
To evaluate the significance of melanoma antigen (MAGE) gene expression in bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).
Methods:
MAGE-A1, A2, A3, A4 mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 3 clusters bladder TCC cells and 20 samples of bladder TCC patients (T(1) 7 samples, T(2) 5 samples, T(3) 6 samples, T(4) 2 samples, G(1) 1 samples, G(2) 11 samples, G(3) 8 samples). MAGE-A4 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in 105 samples of bladder TCC patients (T(1) 35 samples, T(2) 12 samples, T(3) 26 samples, T(4) 13 samples, G(1) 13 samples, G(2) 44 samples, G(3) 48 samples).
Results:
Three clusters bladder TCC cells had MAGE gene mRNA expression. In detection of MAGE mRNA of 20 samples of bladder TCC patients, 12 samples (60%) expressed MAGE-A1, 16 samples (80%) expressed MAGE-A2, 11 samples (55%) expressed MAGE-A3, 18 samples (90%) expressed MAGE-A4, 8 samples (40%) expressed all of MAGE-A1--A4. In 105 bladder TCC samples, 53 samples (50%) expressed MAGE-A4 protein. Strong expression (++ or +++) was significant higher in higher grade (13 samples/48 samples) or stage (14 samples/51 samples) than in lower grade (2 samples/57 samples) or stage (0 samples/35 samples).
Conclusion:
MAGE gene highly expresses in bladder TCC. Bladder TCC of high grade or high stage has higher MAGE-A4 protein strong expression.
