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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
Processing of Primary Brain Tumor Tissue for Stem Cell Assays and Flow Sorting
Published on: September 25, 2012
Expression of cancer-testis genes in brain tumors
Myoung-Hee Lee1, Eun-Ik Son, Ealmaan Kim
1Department of Neurosurgery , Keimyung University, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Objective:
Cancer-testis (CT) genes are considered promising candidates for immunotherapeutic approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate which CT genes should be targeted in immunotherapy for brain tumors.
Methods:
We investigated the expression of 6 CT genes (MAGE-E1, SOX-6, SCP-1, SSX-2, SSX-4, and HOM-TES-85) using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in 26 meningiomas and 32 other various brain tumor specimens, obtained from the patients during tumor surgery from 2000 to 2005.
Results:
The most frequently expressed CT genes of meningiomas were MAGE-E1, which were found in 22/26 (85%) meningioma samples, followed by SOX-6 (9/26 or 35%). Glioblastomas were most frequently expressed SOX-6 (6/7 or 86%), MAGE-E1 (5/7 or 71%), followed by SSX-2 (2/7 or 29%) and SCP-1 (1/7 or 14%). However, 4 astrocytomas, 3 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 3 oligodendroglial tumors only expressed MAGE-E1 and SOX-6. Schwannomas also expressed SOX-6 (5/6 or 83%), MAGE-E1 (4/6 or 67%), and SCP-1 (2/6 or 33%).
Conclusion:
The data presented here suggest that MAGE-E1 and SOX-6 genes are expressed in a high percentage of human central nervous system tumors, which implies the CT genes could be the potential targets of immunotherapy for human central nervous system tumors.
Insights
Cancer-testis genes MAGE-E1 and SOX-6 show high expression in brain tumors. These findings suggest MAGE-E1 and SOX-6 are promising targets for developing new immunotherapies for central nervous system cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cancer-testis (CT) genes are recognized as potential targets for cancer immunotherapy due to their restricted expression in normal tissues.
- Identifying specific CT genes expressed in brain tumors is crucial for developing effective immunotherapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression profile of selected CT genes in various human brain tumors.
- To determine the most frequently expressed CT genes suitable for immunotherapy targeting central nervous system (CNS) tumors.
Main Methods:
- Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to analyze the expression of six CT genes (MAGE-E1, SOX-6, SCP-1, SSX-2, SSX-4, and HOM-TES-85).
- Tumor specimens included 26 meningiomas and 32 other brain tumors (glioblastomas, astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, oligodendroglial tumors, and schwannomas) collected between 2000 and 2005.
Main Results:
- MAGE-E1 was highly expressed in meningiomas (85%) and glioblastomas (71%).
- SOX-6 showed high expression in glioblastomas (86%) and schwannomas (83%), and was also found in meningiomas (35%).
- MAGE-E1 and SOX-6 were the predominant CT genes expressed across multiple types of CNS tumors analyzed.
Conclusions:
- MAGE-E1 and SOX-6 genes are frequently expressed in a significant proportion of human central nervous system tumors.
- These findings highlight MAGE-E1 and SOX-6 as potential immunotherapeutic targets for brain tumors.
- Further research into CT gene-based immunotherapies for CNS malignancies is warranted.
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